Chapter 30 Innuendo

Chapter 30 Veiled Accusation

When Lin Juangui returned to Luochen Manor, he asked the servants to run a bath for him first. The protective suit was too cumbersome, and he had broken a sweat just walking to the welfare institute's dormitory.

Although he had used a scent neutralizer, Huo Zeshen's pheromones were somewhat persistent—once they clung to him, it felt like they couldn't be wiped away.

Given Alphas' territorial nature, if Mu Zhang caught a whiff of another Alpha's scent on Lin Juangui, he would likely fly into a rage. Even though he didn't care whether Lin Juangui had any relationship with other Alphas, such behavior would undoubtedly irritate Mu Zhang.

Lin Juangui had come to understand that in [Lin Juangui]'s description, Mu Zhang was portrayed as a stern, arrogant, and domineering space pirate boss. In reality, whenever Lin Juangui interacted with Mu Zhang, he only felt that the man had a terrible temper and was essentially a thug and rogue at heart, merely masked by a handsome and elegant exterior.

After his bath, Lin Juangui seemed to be shrouded in a light steam. Mu Zhang was impatiently urging him. Seeing Butler Yang following behind him wanting to say something, Lin Juangui calmly put on his glasses and said he needed to return to the small villa where he had previously stayed.

"Are you looking for something?" Butler Yang still hoped Lin Juangui would go see Mu Zhang as soon as possible.

"Yes, I need to get it myself. Tell Mu Zhang to wait a moment; I will answer his questions."

Butler Yang looked conflicted. After all these years, Lin Juangui was clearly the first person who dared to make Mu Zhang wait. He sent a servant to relay the message and accompanied Lin Juangui back to the small villa where he had previously stayed.

Although Lin Juangui hadn't lived in the small villa for long, the books he had read were neatly arranged on the bookshelf.

When he took out the book *Cosmic Adventure Records*, Butler Yang was surprised, as if he hadn't expected the book to be there.

Lin Juangui flipped through a few pages and found the bellflower he had previously placed inside. The petals had absorbed moisture and dried, leaving faint marks on the pages.

Noticing Butler Yang's pensive look, Lin Juangui smiled and asked, "What? Does this book have a story?"

Butler Yang pondered for a moment before speaking. "This is... a book Mr. Mu was very fond of as a child."

When Lin Juangui brought the book over, Mu Zhang had just finished a bottle of nutrient drink.

Although Mu Zhang's damaged internal organs had been quickly repaired by the medical device, the injury had still affected his constitution. The doctor advised Mu Zhang to rest well and avoid any strenuous activities, requiring at least a month of monitoring to ensure no complications before he could resume his usual activities.

Mu Zhang knew he was past the age for recklessness and surprisingly nodded in agreement.

After entering the room, Lin Juangui asked the doctor about Mu Zhang's condition. He listened attentively, but Mu Zhang's attention was completely drawn to the book in Lin Juangui's hand.

Once Lin Juangui asked everyone in the room to leave, Mu Zhang finally spoke: "Where did you get that book in your hand?"

Lin Juangui handed the book to Mu Zhang. "Butler Yang previously arranged for me to stay in the small villa to the west. There were many varied books there. After having the servants organize them all, I picked a few to read. Weren't you curious about how I knew the way to enter Bada Star?"

The edges of the book were already curled, indicating it had been thumbed through many times by its original owner.

The dried bellflower tucked inside led Mu Zhang to the page describing Bada Star.

The book had been published many years ago and was casually used by Bai Qujing as a storybook to lull Mu Zhang to sleep. The adventurer in the book had visited many planets, each with its own unique customs and beliefs. The young Mu Zhang listened with great interest.

The adventurer claimed to have come from another planet, but since Bada had not yet explored beyond its own planet at the time, the locals regarded him as a madman.

The Emerald Valley's majestic and breathtaking beauty could be glimpsed from afar, but it was a pity that they couldn't enter to appreciate it fully.

However, the adventurer was not discouraged. He disguised himself and temporarily settled in Bada, learning many local customs.

When he learned that the clan ruling Bada held an annual ritual and listened to prophecies from the "Holy Mirror," the adventurer grew curious.

Did divine miracles truly exist?

Or was it some method employed by the rulers?

Regardless, the truth could only be uncovered by entering the Emerald Valley.

Thanks to his versatile skills, the adventurer was highly sought after wherever he went. As a village doctor, he successfully became a representative sent to deliver gifts to the Emerald Valley during the festival.

He heard the children living in the Emerald Valley singing a beautiful local folk song. He asked the children what they were singing, and their voices were clear and sweet. "It's a new song composed by the clan leader, singing about..."

"Cicada!" another child chimed in.

The adventurer didn't know who the "Cicada" the children referred to was. After delivering the gifts, he was invited to stay and watch the ritual ceremony.

"In the past, not everyone could witness the ritual ceremony, but the clan leader believes that such rituals should involve more people to demonstrate Bada's prosperity. And Cicada—we can finally see him again this year!"

After curiosity was piqued, expectations soared. However, when the adventurer saw Cicada, he took a deep breath, filled with awe. If he weren't an atheist, he might have truly regarded the youth ascending the altar as a deity.

What was most striking were the golden patterns flowing across the youth's body—even attaching LED lights couldn't achieve such an effect, could it?

The turn of events occurred the next moment. A woman emerged from nowhere in the ritual grounds, loudly cursing the current clan leader.

The adventurer's face showed a gossip-loving expression. The news of killing his father and usurping power was explosive enough, and those around him whispered among themselves.

As people near the ritual grounds gradually dispersed, the adventurer prepared to retreat as well.

Bada was on the brink of internal chaos. The adventurer knew survival came first and that he could no longer stay there.

When the adventurer returned to the coordinates of Bada Star, he found the planet enveloped in thick vines.

These vines were thicker than a person, and blue-purple flowers grew all around.

After scanning with instruments, the adventurer concluded that there were no signs of life left on Bada Star.

The Green People had not escaped the man-made catastrophe. Had the god they worshipped not intervened to save them?

This was the extent of the adventurer's knowledge about Bada Star and the final question he left behind.

When the young Mu Zhang finished this story, he was most curious about: "What happened to the mirror? What happened to the woman who rushed into the ritual grounds? Did the planet just vanish like that?"

Bai Qujing smiled and patted Mu Zhang's head. "Who knows? This book was published hundreds of years ago. It's just a story; don't take it seriously."

These stories were gradually forgotten as Mu Zhang grew up. After his parents passed away, Mu Zhang moved all the household belongings, including those books.

When the floating island was built, the belongings Mu Zhang had taken were stored somewhere, without his knowledge, until Lin Juangui came across them.

Long before he learned about the uniqueness of P-L79, Mu Zhang had recalled the book he read as a child. However, he thought it unlikely for such a coincidence to exist and didn't send anyone to search the manor for it.

After obtaining information about P-L79 from space traders, Mu Zhang considered sending people to investigate. But then Lin Juangui's file crossed his desk, and he ultimately decided to use P-L79 as bait.

The book contained detailed records of the song chanting "Cicada," including specific pronunciations and tones in the appendix. The song was indeed beautiful, but only someone like Lin Juangui would meticulously study how to sing it.

When he heard Lin Juangui singing the chant at the entrance to Bada Star, it reminded Mu Zhang of his childhood. He had asked Bai Qujing how to sing that song, but Bai Qujing merely shook her head, saying she didn't know either. Although Mu Zhang felt a bit disappointed, he didn't fuss and instead pestered Bai Qujing to tell him stories about the next planet.

Mu Zhang closed the book again, slipping the dried bellflower back between its pages.

Seeing that Mu Zhang had understood everything, Lin Juangui sat down on the small sofa by the bed and said to Mu Zhang with a smile, "Fate enjoys playing jokes on me, so I don’t take fate seriously. I act entirely according to my own preferences. The past is something I can leave behind. I can treat all of this as chance, but Mu Zhang, I believe I am owed an apology."

Whether it was the underhanded dealings against the Lin family, claiming Lin Juangui as his own, or pushing him into the fire at the most critical moment—Lin Juangui would remember these debts and settle them with Mu Zhang when the opportunity arose.

Lin Juangui already understood Mu Zhang's character. He had no illusions about changing him. Moreover, Mu Zhang was still useful to him, so he had to maintain an appearance of calm through tolerance.

The Alpha raised his eyes, surprised that Lin Juangui could speak these words so naturally and unflinchingly.

Compared to beating around the bush, Mu Zhang clearly preferred this kind of straightforward candor.

Yet he couldn’t shake the nagging sense that something was off.

Could Lin Juangui truly have let bygones be bygones? Based on Mu Zhang’s own temperament, if someone had wronged him, he would inevitably seek an opportunity for retribution.

Before heading to Bada Star, Lin Juangui had made no secret of his animosity—yet judging by his current demeanor, had he really let it go so easily?

Or was this merely a smokescreen? From the moment Lin Juangui proposed marriage to Mu Zhang, Mu Zhang realized this Omega was no longer the naive individual he once was—in other words, far from easy to manipulate.

He had a mind of his own, and his intelligence was applied precisely where it mattered.

Mu Zhang was curious about Bada’s past—but Lin Juangui clearly had no place in it.

Lin Juangui’s explanation for why he’d appeared on Bada’s altar held up, and everything about Bada felt utterly alien, clearly beyond Mu Zhang’s comprehension.

Communication with the outside world was spotty; the mecha refused to start; and when confronted by those writhing vines, they could only fire futile bursts of gunfire—only to be ensnared and constricted by them.

Still, Lin Juangui had saved Mu Zhang’s life. Acting overly self-centered would only expose his own shameless, darker side. Lin Juangui’s rimless glasses still sat neatly on his nose—a debt Mu Zhang couldn’t evade.

So Mu Zhang brushed those thoughts aside and said to Lin Juangui, with what passed for sincerity: “I’m sorry. My apologies.”

“Mm.”

Mu Zhang looked up, puzzled.

Just an “Mm”?

The Alpha scowled. “Aren’t you going to say you forgive me?”

Lin Juangui shrugged. “I need your apology to comfort myself—but you don’t need my forgiveness.”

Even if the facts were as Lin Juangui claimed, Mu Zhang’s mouth tightened into a scowl, displeased.

Yet he would still have to coexist with Lin Juangui moving forward. Being able to turn the page on past events was undeniably advantageous—so Mu Zhang saw no point dwelling on such trivialities.

The Alpha cleared his throat. He seemed to have dropped his usual air of superiority and asked Lin Juangui, as calmly as possible: “Is there something else you’re hiding from me?”

Lin Juangui blinked, averted his gaze, and nodded awkwardly. “There is—but I’m afraid you won’t like hearing it. Can I have your word first that you won’t retaliate? No matter what, you can’t throw things at me—or hurt me.”

He was genuinely afraid. A single careless gesture from Mu Zhang could leave him disabled. The Mu family matters were clearly a raw nerve for Mu Zhang—and Lin Juangui had no intention of provoking him.

Mu Zhang felt faintly embarrassed by Lin Juangui’s words. He was fully aware of Lin Juangui’s activities on Federal Central Star. Pressing him to confess was simply an old habit—an attempt to seize control of the conversation—but Lin Juangui’s reaction left him feeling slightly guilty.

His treatment of Lin Juangui had indeed been appalling.

Seeing Mu Zhang give a slight nod, Lin Juangui relaxed and said, “General Mu invited me to pay a brief visit to his estate. I was worried you might object, so I hadn’t planned to mention it unless necessary. Since you already know, my position is clear: I won’t interfere excessively in your personal affairs, but I’ll maintain appearances. If you’re unhappy with this arrangement, please tell me how you’d like such situations handled going forward.”

Lin Juangui’s reasoning was flawless.

Indeed, without explicit instructions from Mu Zhang, Lin Juangui—as a junior—had no grounds to refuse Elder Mu’s invitation. After all, the elder held authority. Mu Zhang could afford to dismiss him outright, but Lin Juangui couldn’t.

Lin Juangui knew that anything he did would likely displease Mu Zhang—so he’d chosen silence.

But now that Mu Zhang was aware, he sought unambiguous guidance.

Mu Zhang pressed his lips together and replied ambiguously: “You don’t need to report his matters to me—I won’t bother overseeing whatever you choose to do.”

“Understood.”

An attitude not entirely resistant meant there was room to maneuver. Though Mu Zhang had spent years as a space pirate, if he wished to go legitimate, he’d have to rely on his grandfather’s influence. The problem was—he’d never learned how to humble himself, and he needed someone to offer him a graceful exit.

Lin Juangui had already figured out how to handle General Mu going forward.

So far, the conversation had proceeded relatively smoothly—and Lin Juangui decided to bring it to a close.

Though Lin Juangui had lost much—not just his dignity, but also the sight in one eye—if it served the plan, he would stop at nothing to see it through.

“What are your plans next? Will you collaborate with Zhuang Xi in the charity sector—or continue expanding your financial ventures?” Mu Zhang asked.

Lin Juangui sensed Mu Zhang was needling him.

Even so, he smiled gently. “Of course, I’ll follow your arrangements—but I’d appreciate a copy of your schedule so I can coordinate accordingly.”

Mu Zhang found Lin Juangui almost unnervingly competent.

It was as if he’d become a perfectly calibrated tool—aligned precisely with Mu Zhang’s intentions.

It seemed Lin Juangui valued that contract deeply and was pulling out all stops to prove his worth.

His earnest expression was disarmingly sincere. Mu Zhang no longer saw the usual artificial, polite smile. The Alpha seemed, at last, to grasp just how abysmal his earlier behavior had been.

He dared not meet Lin Juangui’s eyes again—instead shifting his gaze to the book in his hands. “I’ll have Ge Miao liaise with you. If you have other ideas, I’ll grant you full authority to pursue them.”

“Really? That’s wonderful.” Lin Juangui’s excitement was genuine. He suddenly reached out, as if to shake Mu Zhang’s hand. “I hope our communication remains as smooth as it has been today.”

Mu Zhang felt Lin Juangui was subtly mocking him for failing to grasp human nuance. He let out a derisive snort, his eyes narrowing like those of a sly fox.

The Alpha placed his hand over Lin Juangui’s, firmly clamping down on the Omega’s slender, soft fingers. “But one more thing: if you intend to undertake anything that might infringe upon my interests, you must obtain my permission first. Someone as intelligent as you surely understands what I mean, don’t you?”

Lin Juangui smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “Mm. Of course, I understand.”

After returning to his room, Lin Juangui washed his hands three times in the bathroom.

He disliked dealing with someone like Mu Zhang—it was mentally exhausting. And Mu Zhang could effortlessly see through his feigned smiles, forcing Lin Juangui to remain perpetually vigilant in his presence.

Did I sell it well enough today? Lin Juangui smiled at his reflection in the mirror.

[Lin Juangui] leaned naturally against the bathroom wall. He appeared to have regained emotional equilibrium—no longer withdrawn as before.

But Lin Juangui merely scanned him up and down, then fixed [Lin Juangui] with a look of utter disbelief.

[Lin Juangui] stood frozen, clearly unaware of what had transpired during his withdrawal. How had his mechanical deity suddenly turned so vicious?

Most importantly—the gloom between Lin Juangui’s brows had vanished, and he seemed to be in remarkably high spirits.

“Did I miss something good?” [Lin Juangui] asked tentatively.

Lin Juangui briefly recounted his experience on Bada. Looking at [Lin Juangui], his tone carried a hint of frustration. “If you’d been present at the time, you could have watched him die right before your eyes. I wouldn’t have had to go to such lengths to fulfill your wish. What a pity.”

[Lin Juangui] opened his mouth in a silent scream.

After his meltdown, [Lin Juangui] sighed deeply and asked, “Can this also count as part of the protagonist’s buff?”

“I don’t know—but… at the very least, the first instinct upon encountering something shouldn’t be to flee.”

[Lin Juangui] looked up at Lin Juangui, then lowered his head and licked his lips. “I truly couldn’t accept the truth about P-L79. It felt like the answer was staring me in the face—yet I couldn’t grasp it. A profound sense of defeat.”

Lin Juangui sat gently leaning in the soft chair, his gaze suddenly turning indulgent as he looked at [Lin Juangui]. "No one is born fully formed. Even the finest jade must be polished to become smooth and refined."

Some things are just like that—if you can't overcome them, they will reappear in your life again and again, until you are fully capable of handling them and moving past them. Then, they become trivial matters.

Lin Juangui was just a case of practice making perfect. Back in the day, he sold years of his life to Old Master Zhou before realizing his many uses—not just within the company, but also in relation to Old Master Zhou's grandson, who was into men.

The first time Zhou Yi saw Lin Juangui, he was utterly captivated. But Lin Juangui was entirely focused on his work, as oblivious to matters of love and romance as a block of wood.

Or perhaps he was already well aware of those people's romantic interests toward him and simply chose to play dumb.

Lin Juangui disliked Zhou Yi's type of rich kid, feeling that such individuals made his own efforts and hard work seem utterly ridiculous.

So, he avoided Zhou Yi as much as possible, but he couldn't escape Zhou Yi's crazy pursuit.

Once, Zhou Yi threw a party and called Lin Juangui over. In front of many friends, Zhou Yi confessed his feelings to Lin Juangui. At the time, Lin Juangui had a suit jacket draped over his arm. Unmoved by Zhou Yi's drunken state, he maintained his usual aloof and cool, detached elegance.

He picked up the microphone on the table, walked over, and turned off the music that was playing. "Working for your family is one thing, but now you want me to sell myself? Do I have to like you just to keep my position at Zhou Corp? So many people like me—why does it have to be you, Zhou Yi?"

After saying this, Lin Juangui even provocatively winked, which stirred a wave of heat in Zhou Yi's gut. Friends nearby egged him on: "Yeah, love should be free! You can't force someone to like you! Hahahahaha!"

In the end, Zhou Yi chased all his friends away. Lin Juangui tossed the microphone aside casually, took off his glasses, and rubbed the spot between his brows. "It's fine if you don't understand the hardships of people like me—I don't expect you to. But I don't like the feeling of everything being tied together. You've been controlled by your grandfather enough over the years, haven't you? I'm just bait he dangled for you. If you actually take it, you’ll be falling right into his trap. Are you really that stupid, Zhou Yi?"

Zhou Yi, eyes red, had already unbuckled his belt and was jerking off right in front of Lin Juangui.

Lin Juangui winced and looked away, unable to bear the sight, but still took out his phone and started recording, just in case Zhou Yi suddenly went crazy and lunged at him. At least this way, he’d have some evidence.

"Damn it, how can there be someone like you in this world? You have no idea how much you appeal to me. Several times, I’ve felt like I needed to force you, but doing that would just make the old man think his scheme worked. I’d be stuck with you for life—do you have any idea how torturous that is for me?"

Zhou Yi's voice began to tremble. Lin Juangui curled his lips into a cold smile. "I’m just the piece of meat Old Man Zhou is using to lure you in. Don’t you dare break your discipline, Zhou Yi."

Every time Lin Juangui said Zhou Yi's name, it sent a shiver down Zhou Yi's spine. This man had a kind of magic about him—whenever he appeared, you couldn’t help but look at him. Zhou Yi was utterly powerless to resist.

After finishing, Zhou Yi collapsed onto the sofa, completely relaxed. He looked into Lin Juangui's desire-free eyes and asked what kind of person would make Lin Juangui's heart flutter.

Lin Juangui shook his head. "I don’t know. That person hasn’t appeared yet, and maybe never will."

Watching Lin Juangui decisively walk away, Zhou Yi suddenly felt pain.

Everyone who fell in love with Lin Juangui experienced the torment and frustration of being unable to have him. His gaze never lingered on anyone in particular, or perhaps in his eyes, all people were equal—no one was special.

During Lin Juangui's time working for Zhou Corp, he believed in putting profits first. His performance was always impressive, and he managed to maintain a precarious balance in his relationships with both Old Master Zhou and Zhou Yi.

This brief peace was something Lin Juangui had worked tirelessly to achieve. He had finally been polished into a sufficiently smooth stone.

Lin Juangui's words left [Lin Juangui] deep in thought. Finally, he responded with an "Mm" and said, "I won’t abandon you again from now on. What you’ve experienced is actually my fate, but I lacked the courage to face it."

He really had improved. It seemed that during his time in seclusion, [Lin Juangui] had been training and leveling up.

"Mm, you need to witness all of this firsthand. Only then will what I’ve done have meaning."

His experiences during this time led Lin Juangui to some realizations. If the world he originally came from was the main world, then the world within the book should be one dimension lower.

Even though the Federation's technology was highly advanced, with humans spread across the universe and average lifespans extended to over two hundred years, the ABO setting was clearly a regression. Humans needed pheromones as turn-ons to mate—this was an animal instinct that couldn’t be replaced by reason.

And what about the inner workings of Bada Star?

Since there had truly been traces of gods on Bada Star, whether it was punishment or reincarnation, it must have been real. It was just that Lin Juangui had no memory of it. Was [Lin Juangui]’s ability to bind with the system in the book also because of that wager?

Or was the logic of this book simply broken from the start, and [Lin Juangui] had dragged Lin Juangui into this because he was powerless to change things himself?

But how to explain the appearance of the younger version of Huo Zeshen?

The answers to these questions might only become clear when Lin Juangui fulfills [Lin Juangui]’s wishes.

For now, Lin Juangui’s main goal was to gain Mu Zhang’s trust and get into Mu Zhang’s inner circle as much as possible.

He needed to make sure Mu Zhang can’t do without him, so that when Mu Zhang let his guard down, Lin Juangui could deliver a fatal blow.