Chapter 22 The Answer Has Arrived

Chapter 22: The Truth Revealed

The doctor ordered a full battery of tests for Lin Juangui, concluding that the blow to his forehead had damaged his retinal nerves; nearsightedness was the best possible outcome.

Butler Yang grew increasingly anxious as he listened, having anticipated an outburst from Lin Juangui. Yet, throughout both the vision and physical examinations, Lin Juangui remained perfectly cooperative, showing no trace of anger or any inclination to reconcile with Mu Zhang.

When selecting glasses, Lin Juangui unhesitatingly chose a frameless style. Their advantage lay in their light weight, which wouldn't press down on his nose. Aside from the need for frequent lens replacements, they presented no real drawbacks for him.

He never imagined his current prescription would perfectly match his old one. Was this mere coincidence or a deliberate twist of fate?

As he put on the glasses, Lin Juangui's vision cleared. He suddenly recalled the wall of frames in his walk-in closet—many of them gifts from Huo Zeshen, in all sorts of eccentric styles. Huo Zeshen had said he wanted to see different facets of Lin Juangui.

Lin Juangui couldn't help but smile, but his spirits quickly plummeted.

Huo Zeshen.

The source of his sweetest emotions and his most enduring grief.

Thoughts of Huo Zeshen brought Lin Juangui genuine joy, but the harsh reality that followed struck him hard, reminding him that Huo Zeshen was gone.

Butler Yang continued to watch Lin Juangui intently, as if expecting him to condemn Mu Zhang.

Lin Juangui observed the absurd scene but never broached the topic Butler Yang longed to hear.

Mu Zhang's behavior invariably reminded Lin Juangui of Zhou Yi.

He was an amplified version of Zhou Yi—less capricious and childish, but equally stubborn, arrogant, and self-righteous.

Zhou Yi had indirectly caused Huo Zeshen's death, while Mu Zhang had relentlessly inflicted pain upon Lin Juangui.

Mu Zhang's actions were undeniably detestable. Although Lin Juangui was Party B in their contract, constant forbearance would only lead the other party to perceive him as a pushover, easily manipulated.

For now, Lin Juangui couldn't make any drastic moves. He had unfinished business and needed to maintain the current stability.

Lin Juangui adjusted his glasses with his fingers, took a deep breath, thanked the doctor, and returned to his room.

Butler Yang lingered, unsure how to intercede for Mu Zhang. But since Lin Juangui hadn't mentioned Mu Zhang once, it was clearly not the opportune moment, so he reluctantly dropped the idea.

Three days passed in a blur. Mu Zhang didn't return to Luochen Manor, whether due to busyness or a desire to avoid Lin Juangui.

Lin Juangui's life, however, had grown considerably calmer.

With bandages still on his head, Lin Juangui couldn't go out, yet his days were quite fulfilling.

He woke promptly each morning, and after his run, he'd have the servants play the morning business news during breakfast. He listened attentively, undisturbed.

After handling company matters in the morning, he would browse the Interstellar Mall, purchasing items he fancied.

After lunch, he'd walk to the small villa where he used to live, select a few books, and read them in the garden, with a servant brewing him a pot of black tea.

In the evening, he'd take a relaxing bath and go to bed, following a routine so astonishingly regular.

Upon hearing Butler Yang's report at the administrative office, Mu Zhang suddenly found the whole situation preposterous.

How dared Lin Juangui be angry with him? And why was he avoiding Lin Juangui? Wasn't Luochen Manor his home? Why couldn't he return?!

But when Butler Yang mentioned Lin Juangui's eye injury and the necessity of wearing glasses from now on, Mu Zhang's heart felt a pang.

He thought of Bai Qujing, his mother, a remarkable Omega who, after losing her Alpha, held Mu Zhang and tearfully apologized: "Mom is too weak. I can't lose your father. You must... live well, understand?"

After an Omega is permanently marked by an Alpha, their lives become inextricably linked. Alphas fare slightly better, but Omegas cannot endure life without their Alpha. They descend into profound depression and suffering, eventually following their Alpha in death.

At some point, Mu Zhang began to believe that Omegas, as beings utterly dependent on others, should vanish from existence.

He despised and scorned Omegas, gradually concluding that only Alphas were worthy of him.

So he devoted himself unconditionally to Mu Yuanqing, as if to validate the correctness of his choice.

But Mu Yuanqing was too clear-headed, with precise goals and plans—how could he play at being a couple with Mu Zhang for a lifetime?

Thus, Mu Yuanqing withdrew in time, leaving Mu Zhang alone, unable to heal from the scars and memories of the past.

Mu Zhang had underestimated the importance of Omegas to Alphas. Even though he loathed Omegas in his heart, physiologically, he required an Omega's pheromones to navigate his rut periods.

How ridiculous and helpless.

This time, after being injured by Mu Zhang, Lin Juangui neither cried nor made a fuss. He was more resilient than any Omega Mu Zhang had ever encountered.

Of course, this referred solely to his spirit—Lin Juangui's fragile body seemed as if it would shatter at a touch, stirring a rare, albeit fleeting, sense of guilt in Mu Zhang.

Just as Mu Zhang finished his work and returned to Luochen Manor, intending to speak with Lin Juangui, Butler Yang informed him that Lin Juangui was not present.

"Madam has gone to the orphanage to visit the children previously sent by General Mu."

Mu Zhang grunted in acknowledgment, and as Butler Yang mentioned Mu Yuanqing, the atmosphere around him visibly darkened.

Butler Yang silently lowered his head, awaiting instructions.

"Double his security. There's no need to follow him as closely as before, or who knows what outlandish stunts he might pull next."

Originally, Mu Zhang had summoned Lin Juangui to the dining room that day to discuss other matters, but Lin Juangui's calm and composed demeanor had irked him, leading to the subsequent events.

Mu Zhang detested the feeling of losing control. Many called him a "jade-faced fox," claiming he handled everything meticulously, and no one could ever get the better of him.

Yet, the usually calm and self-possessed Mu Zhang had openly displayed malice in front of Lin Juangui—this was his truest self, the side he least wished to expose to outsiders.

Mu Zhang turned and went to his study.

He needed to re-evaluate his attitude toward Lin Juangui.

At the very least, the current Lin Juangui was different from ordinary Omegas in his eyes. He could no longer harm Lin Juangui.

-

Lin Juangui went to the orphanage to visit Huo Zeshen.

The wound on his forehead had healed completely, leaving no trace of injury, so Butler Yang naturally didn't prevent him from leaving.

To see Huo Zeshen, Lin Juangui specifically changed into a white shirt and jeans and chose a playful pair of round-framed glasses.

He didn't want to appear stern in front of Huo Zeshen; he needed to present a more approachable image, one that would encourage Huo Zeshen to trust and draw closer to him.

Lin Juangui bypassed the orphanage and went directly to the back hill, where, as expected, he found Huo Zeshen under the tree.

Huo Zeshen's condition remained poor. He had consumed all the sweets Lin Juangui brought last time, but it was uncertain whether he had been eating properly these past few days.

As before, Lin Juangui sat on the other side of the tree.

He remained silent, quietly keeping Huo Zeshen company.

When Lin Juangui was young, he was often isolated. Back then, much like Huo Zeshen now, he was singled out and ridiculed for his lack of background, dressing less well than his peers, and having more feminine features.

After all, only by establishing a common enemy could those individuals forge unbreakable friendships.

At first, Lin Juangui was bewildered. He couldn't comprehend why everyone around him seemed to dislike him so intensely. It wasn't until he was a bit older, when a male teacher kept him after school and began touching him inappropriately, remarking that he was even more delicate than a girl, that Lin Juangui seemed to grasp something profound. He kicked the teacher squarely in the crotch and stumbled out of school in a panic.

Teenagers are often naive about relationships between the sexes, but in that moment, it was as if something clicked into place in Lin Juangui’s mind.

Lin Juangui’s excellent grades were a source of legitimate pride, yet his appearance became the primary target of his classmates' attacks.

Was it Lin Juangui’s fault?

No.

In the eyes of those who needed him to be at fault, everything he did was wrong—that way, they could stand on moral high ground and do whatever they pleased to Lin Juangui.

The next day, when Lin Juangui arrived at school, he was summoned to the dean's office.

He already knew what awaited him, so when several teachers surrounded him, demanding an explanation, he lifted his head and calmly stated the truth.

Lin Juangui knew he couldn’t afford to tolerate such things.

Because he was a top-performing student in his class, the school imposed no punishment. Instead, more senior administrators began paying attention to him, and the teacher he had nearly incapacitated never appeared before him again.

He should have realized it sooner—cowardice and avoidance were utterly useless.

Lin Juangui began grinding his steel ruler against his desk.

His deskmate was the class monitor, a girl with delicate, doll-like features. Every time she saw Lin Juangui grinding his ruler, she felt unnerved and asked him what he was doing.

Lin Juangui smiled at her, his eyes crinkling at the corners like a radiant sunrise.

“I’ve been under a lot of pressure lately. This helps me feel a little better.”

This cute and kind-hearted deskmate often showed Lin Juangui kindness. No one could dislike someone so attractive, but because of her special attention, Lin Juangui frequently became a target for the boys in his class. Still, he hardly cared anymore.

Unsurprisingly, the incident where Lin Juangui used the steel ruler to injure a classmate caused a major scandal in the school. Yet, thanks to his outstanding grades and numerous eyewitness testimonies, he faced no punishment whatsoever.

The school even organized an anti-bullying campaign specifically because of the incident.

But what good did it do? The deep-seated malice in people couldn’t be eradicated. Lin Juangui wasn’t naive enough to believe that a public apology meant they would leave him alone, so he remained vigilant from start to finish.

However, just before the college entrance exams, something happened at home that almost made Lin Juangui abandon his studies. He had no energy left to be wary of potential dangers around him.

It always seemed to be this way—just when Lin Juangui felt life was getting a little better, fate would drop another devastating blow on him.

Leaning against the tree, Lin Juangui let out a soft sigh.

“In a few days, I have to do something very important,” Lin Juangui said. “I don’t know if I’ll succeed, but before I set out, you’re the one I’m most worried about. That’s why I came to see you.”

His voice was clear, like babbling water, with a slight crispness to it.

Huo Zeshen turned his head slightly. He didn’t know how to respond to Lin Juangui’s concern and could only remain silent.

Lin Juangui stood up and walked over to Huo Zeshen, crouching down in front of him. He reached out and gently squeezed Huo Zeshen’s cheek. “The first time I saw you, you just looked weary. Now you’ve gotten so thin it’s almost unrecognizable. You definitely haven’t been eating properly like I told you to.”

Huo Zeshen suddenly couldn’t bring himself to look Lin Juangui in the eye. He opened his mouth slightly, his adolescent voice low and slightly hoarse. “I have.”

He just had no appetite.

Besides, whenever Cai Yu saw him going to the cafeteria, he would taunt him, asking if he wasn’t supposed to be on a hunger strike and why he was being so spineless as to eat now.

He didn’t want to tell Lin Juangui about these things, but he truly couldn’t see a way out of his current predicament.

Lin Juangui pulled his hand back, his smile warm and genuine. “Alright, if you say so, I believe you.”

Huo Zeshen’s eyes flickered. His lips moved slightly, and he finally voiced the question that had been on his mind: “What happened to your forehead?”

Lin Juangui reached up and touched the spot where Mu Zhang had injured him, seeming surprised. “You can tell?”

Huo Zeshen nodded. “It’s faint, but visible.”

“Your eyesight is really good,” Lin Juangui couldn’t help but remark.

He had studied his reflection in the mirror for a long time before leaving, making sure everything was perfectly concealed.

His slightly annoyed expression didn’t escape Huo Zeshen’s notice. Huo Zeshen then looked at his glasses. “You weren’t wearing these last time I saw you, either.”

Lin Juangui had always admired Huo Zeshen’s observational skills. He always seemed to sense the emotions Lin Juangui tried to hide. But this time, he had actually noticed the injury on Lin Juangui’s forehead with the unaided eye. No wonder he was the second male lead character capable of going a few rounds with Mu Zhang.

Still, the current Huo Zeshen was too weak. The fact that he had spoken so much to Lin Juangui this time was significant progress, and Lin Juangui wouldn’t ask for more.

He lowered his head, pressed his lips together, and sighed with a mix of helplessness and emotion. “There was a little accident. I was hit on the head, and it affected my eyesight. There’s nothing to be done—Omegas are just this fragile. I remember you haven’t differentiated yet. Whatever you do, don’t become an Omega. Otherwise, you’ll suffer a lot.”

Teenagers undergo secondary gender differentiation in their teens, and once it happens, it can’t be changed. They simply have to accept reality.

Huo Zeshen stared directly at Lin Juangui without blinking. “So being an Alpha is better?”

“Of course.”

How else are you going to go up against Mu Zhang, young man?

But Lin Juangui offered a more reasonable explanation: “At the very least, Alphas are significantly stronger than Betas and Omegas in terms of physical strength. Even if someone wants to bully you, they’ll have to reconsider carefully whether they can actually take on an Alpha.”

“It’s not like you can just choose to differentiate into an Alpha, though,” Huo Zeshen said, clearly lacking confidence.

But Lin Juangui remained optimistic. “You never know. Look, you’re only a few years younger than me, but you’re already as tall as I am. In a few more years, I might have to look up to see you.”

Faced with Lin Juangui’s smile, Huo Zeshen couldn’t bring himself to voice any doubts. He simply nodded obediently, as if to say he would try his best.

Lin Juangui reached out and gently smoothed back Huo Zeshen’s slightly overgrown hair, his gaze suddenly distant and thoughtful.

“Thank you for talking with me this much,” Lin Juangui said. “Honestly, I’m a little nervous because I don’t know if things will work out, but talking to you makes me feel relaxed.”

Huo Zeshen was silent for a moment, his eyes lowering slightly—a puzzled expression Lin Juangui knew well.

The young boy asked, “Is it dangerous?”

Lin Juangui shook his head. “Not dangerous. It’s just… the uncertainty and worry about the unknown. I’m always like this. If I can’t guarantee that something will go perfectly, I start running through every scenario in my head. It’s exhausting.”

“You can do it. I believe in you.”

Huo Zeshen could tell that Lin Juangui was indeed relaxed around him, like a small animal completely unguarded, easily revealing its vulnerable side and even sharing so many heartfelt words.

Lin Juangui was the first person willing to approach him after he lost his family. Huo Zeshen knew he had nothing to offer, and the only thing he could give Lin Juangui was this moment of peace.

“If you’re tired, you can nap here for a bit. It’s very quiet. If you close your eyes, you can hear the sound of the wind.”

"Is that so? I'll give it a try."

Lin Juangui sat down beside Huo Zeshen and slowly closed his eyes.

Before long, Huo Zeshen heard the sound of even breathing.

He actually... really fell asleep.

A weight suddenly settled on his shoulder, and Huo Zeshen stiffened. He tilted his head slightly and, upon seeing the top of Lin Juangui's head, his throat moved unconsciously.

The Omega's pheromonal scent was light, like morning dew, fresh and subtly sweet.

Huo Zeshen inhaled cautiously, not daring to relax his shoulder for fear of disturbing Lin Juangui's nap.

Lin Juangui was awakened by the sound of an incoming call. He adjusted his glasses that had slipped down, feeling a little groggy from being woken up so soon.

The caller was Rong Rui, who got straight to the point: "Young Master Lin, everything's ready on my end. Ready to depart anytime."

"Good. Send me the coordinates. See you soon."

Huo Zeshen could sense the seriousness and edge in Lin Juangui's voice as he spoke to the other person, as if he had put on impenetrable armor.

But the next moment, when Lin Juangui turned around, he gave Huo Zeshen a bright smile. "I have to go now. Wish me luck?"

"Good luck."

After Lin Juangui left, Huo Zeshen also stood up.

He looked at his thin, cracked hands and suddenly clenched his fists tightly, as if making a firm resolution.

-

Meeting Rong Rui took place two hours later.

Rong Rui's starship had a strong industrial wasteland aesthetic—plain-looking from the outside but full of surprises inside.

For this trip, Rong Rui had brought over a hundred people, including veteran experts in exploration and various advanced instruments. He looked proud as he introduced these to Lin Juangui.

"As expected, it takes professionals to handle professional matters. Boss Rong, you truly live up to your reputation as a renowned stellar explorer. I made the right choice coming to you."

Rong Rui was clearly pleased by Lin Juangui's flattery, but he wasn't about to get carried away by a few compliments.

"I sent people to the coordinates you provided earlier for a preliminary survey. We originally planned to create a 3D scan to help the starship find a landing spot, but unfortunately, the scans came back blank."

It was this mystery and uncertainty that drew many to sign up with Rong Rui, hoping to join the exploration of P-L79.

Rong Rui led Lin Juangui to a holographic map. All they could see was chaos, which matched the information Lin Juangui had received from the Lin Group's project team. P-L79 was enveloped in thick biogas and various bizarre, unnamable plants, making it nearly impossible to approach.

Lin Juangui cupped his chin, puzzled. "Is there any way to get inside?"

"Having a way is one thing; whether it's feasible is another. What plants fear most is, of course, fire, but P-L79 is surrounded by biogas. Even a spark could be dangerous. So, the only viable option we can think of for now is to send a scout team to find an entry point."

"Alright, thanks for handling this."

Rong Rui was more reliable than Lin Juangui had imagined, saving a lot of hassle.

All Lin Juangui had to do now was wait.

For some reason, the bodyguards who usually followed him closely weren't shadowing him like they usually did. They simply observed silently as he boarded Rong Rui's starship.

Lin Juangui knew their role wasn't just to protect his safety but also to monitor his actions and report back to their superiors.

Lin Juangui didn’t matter much in Mu Zhang's heart, and Mu Zhang probably didn’t care about Lin Juangui’s safety either. Therefore, Lin Juangui believed that Mu Zhang’s invitation to dinner that day must have been about something else.

It was only because Lin Juangui played dumb in front of Mu Zhang that Mu Zhang became furious at failing to gain the moral high ground between them.

What would Mu Zhang say to Lin Juangui? It must be related to the Lin family, especially since Lin Juangui had put out word he was selling P-L79 right after the high-level meeting. If P-L79 truly had something really important, Mu Zhang wouldn’t miss this opportunity.

Lin Juangui figured this out from the information he had obtained from the Lin family and [Lin Juangui].

It was known that P-L79 contained something that could fetch a high price at auction. In the original storyline, after Lin Qiu’s gambling losses, the Lin family sold P-L79 to recoup funds. Not long after, the true value of P-L79 was discovered, leaving Lin Qiu kicking himself.

The timing was suspiciously perfect, making it hard not to suspect something.

Initially, the Lin family managed to maintain a balance between income and expenses. But not long after acquiring P-L79, they fell into financial difficulty.

Just when Lin Qiu was out of options, Mu Zhang happened to send someone with an offer. Of course Lin Qiu grabbed that lifeline. Only this time, it was [Lin Juangui] who ended up suffering.

From Lin Juangui’s perspective, none of this was a coincidence but rather a setup.

Before Lin Qiu was persuaded by that cosmic merchant to acquire P-L79, [Lin Juangui] had gone to a testing center to obtain a detailed report on his pheromones.

Since everyone smelled something different in his pheromones, [Lin Juangui] found it strange and decided to get a thorough examination.

When he learned how unique his pheromones were, [Lin Juangui] didn’t yet sense danger—he simply thought it was a good thing, at least making him an Omega that everyone would adore.

But misfortune soon followed. He was chosen by Mu Zhang to become a substitute, never able to live for himself again.

The timeline aligned perfectly—the truth was now clear.

If P-L79 was a deliberately set trap, Lin Juangui’s goal was to use P-L79 against them and expose the mastermind behind it.

After the Lin family announced their intention to sell P-L79, only a few companies reached out and offered what they deemed reasonable prices.

Lin Juangui was pragmatic—since P-L79 no longer served any purpose for the Lin family, it would naturally go to the highest bidder.

And so, P-L79 was purchased by a new company of Lin Juangui’s on the Federal Central Star.

Lin Juangui had Qu Yang do some digging into the companies interested in buying P-L79.

One of them had Gu Mi listed as its legal representative.

Gu Mi was Mu Zhang’s subordinate—Lin Juangui had heard Mu Zhang call his name before.

If it wasn’t a coincidence, then it was intentional.

This was a classic case of being sold out and still helping count the money. When [Lin Juangui] saw Gu Mi’s name on the list of legal representatives, he shut down for days and didn’t show up. He didn’t need Lin Juangui to spell it out—he could already connect the dots.

But these were just Lin Juangui’s theory. Even if it was all Mu Zhang’s doing, so what? Mu Zhang had always been arrogant and would never admit he did anything wrong.

Such things couldn’t be used as leverage against Mu Zhang. Lin Juangui simply needed the truth to set things up for later.

Rong Rui took Lin Juangui to the main cabin of the starship, where the two sat by the floor-to-ceiling window, looking out at space.

Lin Juangui held a cup of coffee, while Rong Rui sat across from him, not taking his eyes off him.

"Glasses don’t suit you," Rong Rui said abruptly.

Lin Juangui put down his coffee and turned, and replied, "Exactly."

Lin Juangui was still wearing those round-framed glasses, which gave him a student-like innocence and awkwardness.

Rong Rui smiled and was about to say something, but at that moment his communicator chimed. The pilot informed him that three large starships were following them and had already captured images, which were sent to Rong Rui.

Rong Rui opened his viewscreen, and upon seeing the starships painted in platinum and white, he looked up skeptically at Lin Juangui: "Is your Alpha Mu Zhang?"

Mu Zhang is undoubtedly the most formidable star pirate in the universe. Although he went straight many years ago, the platinum color representing his identity has left a profound mark across the cosmos.

It is a color only the star pirate organization known as "Tianguang" would dare to use.

Lin Juangui clearly saw the images displayed on Rong Rui's viewscreen.

The Omega sneered and casually replied with an "Mm-hmm."

Rong Rui took a deep breath, already aware of the trouble he had gotten himself into. But since his relationship with Lin Juangui was purely cooperative, there was ultimately nothing to fear.

Recalling how Lin Juangui had looked drunk when he first saw him, Rong Rui suddenly had a bold hunch.

"You don’t get along with him? But I remember hearing not long ago that Mu Zhang got married."

Lin Juangui did not deny it. His attitude was somewhat cold. "We had a disagreement over just some minor matters. Don’t worry, the issues between him and me won’t affect you. There’s no need to be overly concerned—just focus on your tasks."

If everything that happened to the Lin family and Lin Juangui himself was previously just Lin Juangui’s conjecture, Mu Zhang personally leading three starships to follow them now indirectly confirmed it all.

The truth was now revealed.