Chapter 128 Embrace

Chapter 128: Embrace

He Zhi was deep in a sweet sleep.

Perhaps the Federation's medication was truly potent, or perhaps Qi Yanshen's care was exceptionally meticulous. Unlike before, He Zhi no longer found it difficult to wake up easily once he was asleep at night.

Feeling uncomfortably warm, He Zhi groggily got up and felt his way to the bedside for water.

Why is it so hot...

Is the Mothership's climate control system malfunctioning?

His hand groped in the air for a moment before Ji Anzhi came to his senses. Qi Yanshen wouldn't enter his room; if he wanted water, he'd have to go to the living room for it.

Ji Anzhi covered his face. He really had been spoiled...

After lingering for a few seconds, Ji Anzhi staggered to his feet.

"Lights on."

Light flooded the room. Ji Anzhi got out of bed and walked towards the door. Before opening it, he touched the wall.

Feeling the cool wall, Ji Anzhi paused.

His thoughts began to congeal. If the climate control system had malfunctioned, the wall temperature should be a degree or two higher. He touched his own forehead; it seemed he had a slight fever.

As he opened the door, Ji Anzhi tried to recall the day's activities. He shouldn't have caught a chill, right?

Opening the door, Ji Anzhi caught a faint scent of gardenia, likely the smell of Qi Yanshen's pheromones.

Because of his current identity as an omega, Qi Yanshen's stock of pheromone suppressants from the military academy had been used up. He had recently gotten a new box from the logistics department.

Qi Yanshen was usually very careful in this regard. Why was his pheromone leakage so obvious today?

As he mulled it over, Ji Anzhi walked towards the water dispenser, picked up a cup, and filled it with water.

Halfway through filling the cup, Ji Anzhi realized something was wrong. Why was the gardenia scent becoming increasingly strong?

Was Qi Yanshen in his rut?

But Qi Yanshen had just told him yesterday that his rut was next week or the week after, and he wouldn't be able to go to the greenhouse then.

What could cause a rut to come early?

After thinking for a moment, Ji Anzhi finished the half cup of water, filled another full cup, and prepared to take it back to the bedroom.

He wasn't about to ask about Qi Yanshen's condition. Back then, showing a bit of concern had nearly gotten him marked as an omega. His past self had little power to resist; his current self even less.

Although he still harbored lingering feelings for Qi Yanshen, and there were signs of them rekindling recently, he wouldn't risk his life to check on an alpha's safety, especially an alpha who liked him.

Picking up the water cup, Ji Anzhi prepared to return to his room. It was only a little past ten, almost eleven; still early.

However, halfway there, Ji Anzhi felt his body growing increasingly feverish, and he was still parched.

After drinking the water in his hand, the feverish feeling didn't subside. He even felt a faint stirring below. Ji Anzhi finally realized the problem.

Normally, even with a fever, his body temperature shouldn't rise so significantly in such a short time, along with desire. It was most likely the work of a drug.

Thinking this, Ji Anzhi looked towards the main door, then at the air circulation vent on the ceiling.

The main door was tightly sealed. Generally, no one would be bored enough to break in just to administer drugs.

Smelling the gardenia scent in the air, Ji Anzhi pinpointed the air circulation system. Only it could cause both occupants in their respective bedrooms to exhibit reactions simultaneously.

A large mothership would be equipped with three air circulation systems, with only one typically in use to ensure a backup if one fails. Moreover, if harmful substances are detected, the backup system activates immediately.

So, there was a ninety percent chance the system control center had been compromised...

The feverish sensation in his body began to muddle Ji Anzhi's thoughts. He had to pause his reasoning and rummage through his Space Bracelet. He remembered bringing antidotes for aphrodisiacs, but he wasn't sure if they would be effective.

Focused on finding the medicine, Ji Anzhi didn't notice the door behind him slowly creaking open.

...

Asleep, Qi Yanshen felt something was wrong with his body—a pervasive heat. Worse, his rut, which was already approaching, had been triggered, arriving right then.

Suppressing his irritable emotions, he called Lu Yan. Unexpectedly yet understandably, Lu Yan didn't answer. Qi Yanshen immediately called Jian Fuxu instead.

A few seconds later, the voice call connected.

"How are you?" Jian Fuxu spoke first. He was currently restraining a somewhat agitated Lu Yan to administer an inhibitor. Due to pheromone interference, Jian Fuxu's technique was extremely rough—an injection into the carotid artery, completed in one second.

He pulled out the needle and sprayed on disinfectant in one fluid motion.

Qi Yanshen, walking towards the bathroom, replied hoarsely, "Rut came early. Used inhibitors last month."

Jian Fuxu frowned. That meant Qi Yanshen couldn't use inhibitors again this month. This complicated things.

After thinking for a few seconds, as the sound of water came through, Jian Fuxu said, "There's a problem with the air circulation system. Don't go out now. Lock yourself in your room. I'll come find you once the situation outside stabilizes."

Qi Yanshen understood why and grunted in agreement.

Jian Fuxu gave brief instructions: avoid using inhibitors unless absolutely necessary, make sure to lock the door securely, and wear a muzzle. Then he hung up.

After the call ended, Qi Yanshen sat on the bathroom floor, his shirt and black sleep pants clinging tightly to his skin.

Under the cold shower, he retrieved a muzzle from his space bracelet, put it on, and even set a password to ensure he couldn't remove it if he lost control.

Then he took out a gas mask and put it on.

The situation outside was undoubtedly a major problem. Going out now would only be a liability. It was better to wait in the room.

Moreover, Jian Fuxu's advice was correct. He shared a room with He Zhi. He absolutely had to lock the door. Otherwise, if he couldn't resist and rushed out, He Zhi's delicate body wouldn't be able to escape.

For the first few minutes, rationality still held the upper hand. But as time passed, Qi Yanshen felt his consciousness growing increasingly muddled. He could perceive everything around him but couldn't think.

Seems it can enter the body through the skin.

Qi Yanshen silently concluded. He tried to get up and put on his combat suit, which had blocking properties to prevent the drug from entering through the skin.

Staggering to his feet, before he could even take out the combat suit, Qi Yanshen fell back onto the floor. This fall further clouded his mind.

Rut combined with the drug... rationality was already losing ground...

Qi Yanshen couldn't understand. At First Military Academy, except for the Star Chart Department and Design Department where Drug Resistance was an elective, it was a compulsory course for all other departments, himself included.

He had even started drug resistance training in middle school, including resisting the allure of omega pheromones. Under such circumstances, even if affected, it shouldn't have happened this quickly...

After that, Qi Yanshen lost track of his own thoughts. He'd forget a thought the moment he had it, unable to recall.

He held on for another minute or two, then groggily opened the bathroom door. His clothes were plastered to his skin, which felt awful.

Entering the bedroom, his eyes went straight to the door leading to the living room. As if possessed, he walked towards it. Just as he was about to touch the handle, Qi Yanshen suddenly came to his senses and pulled his hand back.

There was no way he could go out in his current state.

Qi Yanshen slid down the door to crouch, retrieving an anesthetic syringe from his Space Bracelet. He haphazardly injected it into his body. However, because he missed the vein, most of it went into muscle tissue rather than directly into the bloodstream for fast action.

During a rut, an alpha's sensitivity also increases. Simply put, all his senses were heightened. Injecting an anesthetic is unpleasant; during a rut combined with forced estrus, it's even more unbearable.

So, halfway through the injection, Qi Yanshen couldn't bear it anymore. He tossed the syringe aside, panting heavily, and buried his head in the crook of his arm, his knuckles turning white.

His blurred consciousness, feverish body, and the drug-induced discomfort made Qi Yanshen desperately want... desperately want to see him...

Thinking this way, the drug in his blood hit a threshold. Qi Yanshen slowly stood up and opened the door.

As soon as the door opened, a figure with its back turned appeared in his blurred vision. The thought came to him, unbidden: that was his lover.

Muscle memory allowed Qi Yanshen to naturally and silently sneak closer.

This was enough for Ji Anzhi, whose body had become frail and perception dulled due to genetic cell collapse.

When he was just a few steps away, Ji Anzhi sensed the concentration of gardenia scent in the air reaching an extremely abnormal level, somewhat reminiscent of... Qi Yanshen's early rut back at the military academy...

Ji Anzhi bolted for his room without even turning back to confirm.

The next second, Ji Anzhi was gathered into a blazing, damp embrace. Icy water droplets and slightly ragged breaths passed through his hair, landing on his sensitive neck. What really worried him was the hard pressure against his waist, making Ji Anzhi dare not act rashly.

Not daring to speak, Ji Anzhi was now utterly clear-headed, reflecting on why he hadn't entered his room to search for the antidote despite knowing the air circulation system might be compromised.

Truly, illness makes one foolish for three years.

He needed to find an opportunity to message Chi Yan. He really didn't want to face an alpha in the throes of rut...

"Thud..."

"Mmph!"

Lost in his chaotic thoughts, Ji Anzhi shuddered, trying hard to suppress his voice.

Qi Yanshen lightly licked the back of his neck.

It seemed like tasting, yet also like a dangerous signal.

The previously worn gas mask and bite guard had both been removed by Qi Yanshen. The gas mask was easy to remove, but the bite guard, which was password-locked—Qi Yanshen actually still remembered the code and successfully unlocked it.

Qi Yanshen wrapped his arms around Ji Anzhi from behind. Due to their size difference, Ji Anzhi was like a little white rabbit surrounded by a starving wolf. Qi Yanshen even had strands of Ji Anzhi's hair between his teeth.

They maintained this position, with no further action or words, only the sound of their heavy breathing.

"So uncomfortable..."

Qi Yanshen's voice was hoarse, his usual composure gone, leaving only habitual flatness. Yet within this flatness lay a thick layer of grievance and confusion.

Receiving no response, Qi Yanshen hugged "He Zhi" and nuzzled against him again, his breath hitting the neck. He mumbled, half-conscious, "Anzhi... hot..."

Hearing his name, Ji Anzhi desperately wanted to break free from Qi Yanshen's embrace, run into his room, lock the door, and wait for the military to handle it.

Testing the waters with a slight struggle, the alpha behind him immediately increased his strength. Ji Anzhi instantly stopped moving.

Ji Anzhi tried hard to keep his tone calm: "I want to go back to my room to sleep."

After he spoke, Qi Yanshen's intermittent voice came: "Sleep... should go to bed early."

"I'll sleep by myself."

Afraid Qi Yanshen might misunderstand, Ji Anzhi quickly corrected himself. Unfortunately, Qi Yanshen selectively ignored the latter part, pulling Ji Anzhi along into his own room.

Ji Anzhi tried to shake off the alpha's hand, but the alpha didn't want to let go; instead, his grip grew stronger.

After being brought into the room, Qi Yanshen locked the door. This put Ji Anzhi on high alert. He quietly took out the energy gun from his Space Bracelet. If necessary, his own safety would be his top priority.

But as soon as he got it in hand, Qi Yanshen snatched the gun away. He also tore off Ji Anzhi's smart device, Space Bracelet, and Pheromone Isolation Ring, throwing them all into a corner together.

Then he hugged Ji Anzhi tightly, burying his face and taking a deep inhale.

As if searching for something.

Ji Anzhi: "........"

This was a bit too much, leaving no way out.

Qi Yanshen kept searching around Ji Anzhi's neck. Although he didn't know what he was looking for, his subconscious told him what he wanted was here.

After searching for a while, the alpha's patience ran out. On Ji Anzhi's Adam's apple, his canine teeth gently ground.

Ji Anzhi was so frightened he kept retreating. Qi Yanshen was dragged forward but didn't let go, instead holding on even tighter.

"Hisss... Qi Yanshen! Snap out of it!"

These words not only failed to awaken Qi Yanshen's reason but made the out-of-control alpha exert even more force.

This forced Ji Anzhi to retreat continuously until he reached the edge of the bed. Losing his balance, he fell directly onto the bed.

Smelling the overwhelmingly strong, somewhat uncomfortable gardenia scent in the air and hearing the still-running water from the bathroom, Ji Anzhi pondered what to do.

Unfortunately, there was no time to think this time. Qi Yanshen suddenly got up, quietly looking down at the person beneath him, as if recalling something.

The clothes on both of them were soaked—Qi Yanshen's white shirt and Ji Anzhi's white sleeping robe—both clinging, faintly revealing soft pink curves.

Ji Anzhi met his gaze for two seconds before turning his head away to avoid eye contact.

Firstly, Qi Yanshen's current gaze was overly possessive. Secondly... it was really big; it felt like trouble was brewing, and he really didn't want to face it.

"My Anzhi... doesn't seem to look like this. Why do you look different? Why?..."

Qi Yanshen muttered to himself like this. As Ji Anzhi was thinking how to respond, Qi Yanshen suddenly flipped him over, turning his back towards Qi Yanshen.

Pushing aside the long hair, Qi Yanshen buried his face without hesitation.

"Qi... Qi Yanshen! I'm not an omega! I..."

The words that followed could not be spoken aloud.

...

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After ending the call, Jian Fuxu inquired about Lu Yan's condition.

"How is it?"

Lu Yan didn't respond. He used to slack off, often skipping his anti-drug training, which now resulted in his intense reaction to the medication.

Lu Yan remained silent, but Jian Fuxu didn't press the issue. He put on a medical protective suit, and his voice came through, muffled and distant.

"This is what happens when you slack off. Every bit of trouble you've been through over the years was well-deserved."

Lu Yan lowered his head. He knew he was in the wrong, so could you please stop harping on it?

Taking a few deep breaths, Lu Yan said, "So, can you uncuff me?"

Jian Fuxu glanced over. Since Lu Yan had the poorest resistance, Jian Fuxu had immediately injected him with a blocker upon noticing the abnormality.

When that proved ineffective, Jian Fuxu acted decisively, using military handcuffs to secure Lu Yan to the wall, pinning his neck to administer a high-concentration inhibitor.

"No."

Ignoring Lu Yan, Jian Fuxu sent messages to the others, warning them to be cautious—this aphrodisiac was anything but ordinary.

This was a deliberate, well-planned move.