Chapter 133 Disappearance

Chapter 133: Absent

"Aren't you afraid of lying down with a tiger, Chief Ji?"

Actually, Ji Anzhi really felt like saying that Ji Anjue wasn't like that.

Ji Anjue was a mind-reader, so he knew Ji Anzhi meant him no harm. There would be no rift between them.

Moreover, with Ji Anzhi taking care of both kids, Ji Anjue barely had a care in the world. Besides his own health, his biggest concerns were what to eat tomorrow and what new dish to learn the day after, wishing this life could last forever...

Of course, he couldn't tell Chi Yan all this.

Ji Anzhi continued to explain, "Yanyan, as an SSSS-level psychic, can read minds. If I had any bad intentions, he would detect them immediately. And... he's probably not what you're picturing."

Chi Yan was puzzled. Different how?

Ji Anzhi answered, a little embarrassed, "Actually, An Jue has a child's heart. He loves eating, drinking, and having fun."

Chi Yan was dumbfounded. He just couldn't wrap his head around combining an SSSS-level psychic with a 'child's heart'...

That just didn't seem possible.

Chi Yan wanted to refute—how could this be?

But then he remembered the little Anjue from before, beaming with joy while holding a pile of snacks, and the words died on his lips.

Chi Yan completely gave up thinking. His brain cells went on strike, and so did his common sense system...

He mumbled to himself, "Forget it, forget it. Whatever Chief Ji says goes..."

Ji Anzhi couldn't help but find it funny and reached out to pat Chi Yan's head again, comforting him, "Don't worry about it. I can introduce you to him later. Xiao Tuanzi, all grown up, is really handsome."

"Anjue was cute as a child; he definitely won't be bad-looking grown up."

Ji Anzhi nodded at Chi Yan's matter-of-fact statement.

The topic gradually drifted off course, and it was only after chatting for a while that Chi Yan realized it. He quickly steered the conversation back.

"Wait, let's not talk about that for now. Chief Ji, what's going on with your body?"

This was no different from asking what happened back then.

Ji Anzhi hesitated but finally told Chi Yan.

"Back then, I forcibly elevated my psychic power to SSSS-level, and my body couldn't handle it."

With just these two simple sentences, Chi Yan understood everything.

Chi Yan's voice trembled as he asked, "R-really?"

Ji Anzhi nodded, hugging him. Chi Yan let himself be pulled in, lowering his head.

Ji Anzhi patted Chi Yan's back like he was soothing a child, "Yanyan, don't worry. I'm right here, aren't I? I'm fine. What's past is past. Don't dwell on it anymore, okay?"

Chi Yan didn't answer. Instead, he burst into tears again in Ji Anzhi's embrace, his sobs muffled against Ji Anzhi.

Ji Anzhi sighed, patiently patting Chi Yan's back over and over. Even Xiao Bai was awakened and, feeling helpless, returned to Chi Yan's neck, nuzzling him.

Only when Chi Yan had pulled himself together and voluntarily left the embrace did Ji Anzhi let out a silent sigh of relief.

To lighten the mood, Ji Anzhi deliberately said, "Want to hug a little longer? Free for the first minute, then one star coin per second after that."

Chi Yan didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Was Chief Ji treating him like a child?

But Chi Yan still played along, "Just one star coin per second? I can afford it."

The two shared a smile and didn't continue discussing the matter of Ji Anzhi's health.

Glancing at the time, they were surprised to see it was almost lunchtime. They had been talking for about three hours.

Chi Yan immediately opened his personal terminal, "I'll order food. What do you want, Chief Ji? How about shrimp porridge? And do you want a Snow Honey Peach? Hmm... seems there's no Snow Honey Peach. Want some watermelon?..."

After a flurry of activity, the order was finally placed.

When the food arrived at the door, Chi Yan nearly tripped while retrieving it.

"Comi— Ah! Master, what are you doing lying here?"

Seeing General Hong leisurely reclining on a lounge chair by the door, watching a soap opera, Chi Yan voiced his soul's question.

General Hong replied matter-of-factly, "Standing guard. Did you think you could chat safely with your Chief Ji for so long otherwise?"

As she spoke, she pointed down the corridor. Chi Yan followed her gaze and saw that deadpan face, followed by his two alpha childhood friends.

Noticing Chi Yan's look, Lu Yan gave an awkward smile, wishing he could vanish on the spot. But for the sake of his friend's future happiness, Lu Yan mustered his courage to greet Chi Yan.

"Hello, Chief Chi. We wanted to visit Ji Anzhi. After all, we were dormmates once."

Lu Yan was cautious, not mentioning the relationship between Qi Yanshen and Ji Anzhi, afraid Chi Yan might slam the door in anger. They couldn't exactly fight General Hong...

Chi Yan chose to ignore them. Actually, being able to ignore them was already quite an achievement. During the three days Ji Anzhi was unconscious, Chi Yan had already thought of ways to have Qi Yanshen killed.

Even if it meant going to the Interstellar Court.

"Master, let me get the food."

"Tsk tsk tsk, you really abandon your master for your sweetheart. Didn't even think to order me a portion. Such an unfilial disciple~"

Chi Yan felt a black line forming on his forehead and hurriedly handed his own meal to General Hong, "I was wrong, wrong, wrong! Sorry, Master!"

"Please, accept it with a smile!"

General Hong smiled and took the food Chi Yan offered, casually remarking, "Well, you show some sincerity. I'll reluctantly accept it then. I have something in an hour."

General Hong's meaning was clear: in one hour, she would leave. After that, she wouldn't be able to control those three over there.

Chi Yan nodded and then swiftly closed the door.

Qi Yanshen and the other two could hear their conversation and naturally understood General Hong's implication.

Qi Yanshen wanted to go over and wait, but Lu Yan held him back tightly.

Are you trying to get yourself killed?!

That's General Hong!

Among the notoriously insane Rose Legion, she's one of the most neurotic and unhinged!

Even if Qi Yanshen is the eldest son of Auntie Qi and Uncle Yun, if he truly provoked her, General Hong would kill him without hesitation, and might even accidentally kill them too...

Lu Yan lowered his voice to plead, "Yan Shen! Yan Shen, I'm begging you! Don't provoke General Hong, okay? Just wait until General Hong leaves, then go in!"

Qi Yanshen weighed the pros and cons and ultimately chose to take Lu Yan's advice.

Just one more hour, and he could go in.

Since the Marshal had granted permission, once General Hong left, he could enter.

Meanwhile, inside the treatment room, Chi Yan brought the meal over to Ji Anzhi's side. The robot automatically set up the bed table, and Chi Yan placed the food on it.

Ji Anzhi instinctively raised his hand to take the wet wipe, but Chi Yan asked in confusion, "What's wrong, Chief Ji?"

Ji Anzhi paused for a moment, withdrew his hand, and chuckled wryly, "It's nothing, let's eat. ... Oh, by the way, Yanyan, do you want to eat together?"

He had overheard, of course, the conversation between Chi Yan and General Hong and knew that Chi Yan had given his portion to General Hong.

Chi Yan quickly waved him off. He knew Chief Ji's appetite; the meal portion was about the same as usual, not much to begin with, so how could he possibly take food from a patient?

"No, no, I'll just have a nutrient drink."

Ji Anzhi didn't say more and quietly began to eat.

The meal was modest: a small bowl of fresh shrimp and corn porridge with scallions, a small plate of pickled vegetables, a small serving of stir-fried greens, and two pieces of braised pork with a mix of lean and fatty meat.

Roughly the portion for an omega around six or seven years old.

He finished eating in about ten minutes. Chi Yan packed the utensils into the container, not noticing the momentary stiffness in Ji Anzhi's movements before he turned to wipe his mouth with a tissue placed nearby.

The paper was a bit rough.

Ji Anzhi noted silently. Although what the military provided wasn't bad, compared to Qi Yanshen's tissues, it was indeed a notch lower—it felt a bit irritating.

Thinking of this, Ji Anzhi suddenly smiled helplessly. Humans truly are creatures of habit; once accustomed to good days, it becomes hard to go back to the old ways.

By the time Chi Yan finished cleaning up, Ji Anzhi had composed himself.

"Is Qi Yanshen outside?"

Chi Yan stiffened for a moment and changed the subject, "Chief Ji, your health is poor right now, so just rest well. I brought your personal terminal for you; the military hasn't tampered with it."

Seeing Chi Yan's reaction, Ji Anzhi understood—Qi Yanshen was indeed outside.

If he weren't, Chi Yan would likely be criticizing Qi Yanshen.

"Tell him I don't want to see him right now. We'll meet again after he regains his memory."

With that, Ji Anzhi lay down to rest. He had always been prone to drowsiness, and now even more so. Although resting immediately after a meal wasn't ideal for health, he simply couldn't stay awake any longer.

Chi Yan nodded and quietly left with the meal container.

Opening the door, General Hong, who was still eating, raised an eyebrow—so soon?

Chi Yan bent down and whispered, "Master, could you move?"

General Hong picked up her meal container, stood up, leaned against the wall to continue eating, and prepared to enjoy the show.

Chi Yan stepped over the lounge chair, and the door automatically closed behind him.

First, he handed the meal container to a robot for recycling and processing, then walked straight toward Qi Yanshen, stopping about two meters away from the three of them.

"Chief Ji says he doesn't want to see you right now. He'll meet you again after you regain your memory."

With that, and without another word, he turned and left directly, returning to the treatment room.

Qi Yanshen had been prepared to argue. Since Chi Yan had always disliked him, he expected Chi Yan to make things difficult—perhaps using Ji Anzhi's poor health as an excuse to warn him not to disturb Ji Anzhi.

Instead, Chi Yan said it was Ji Anzhi who didn't want to see him and wanted to meet only after he regained his memory.

He couldn't argue because it was Ji Anzhi's own decision.

Unwilling to accept this, Qi Yanshen stared at Chi Yan's retreating back and asked loudly, losing his usual composure and sounding panicked, "Did he really say that?"

Chi Yan stopped, turned back, and replied calmly, "If you don't believe it, you can send a message to Chief Ji yourself."

With that, he walked away without looking back and returned to the medical room.

Qi Yanshen's hands clenched tightly. His recently calmed pheromones grew restless again, wanting to leave traces freely in this space, marking it as his territory to keep other alphas away.

Unfortunately, that wasn't possible. Ever-present monitoring robots would issue warnings if pheromone concentration became too high.

Struggling to suppress his pheromones, Qi Yanshen turned and said, "Let's go."

Lu Yan and Jian Fuxu exchanged glances and followed him away.

General Hong felt like she had watched a drama but hadn't seen the ending—a feeling of incompleteness, truly a pity.

Chi Yan replied quickly, telling her, his master, to take good care of her health. It sounded nice, but she didn't see this kid coming out to see his master off.

"Tsk, a grown apprentice is no longer devoted..."

General Hong sighed as she walked away.

Back in the treatment room, Chi Yan found a chair and sat down. He would quietly keep Chief Ji company here.

...

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Judgment Sword

Commander's Office

An omega with delicate and heroic features, dressed in a black military uniform, wore medals indicating the rank of General. According to the nameplate at the door, she was also the Commander of Judgment Sword.

Asuna's black hair was neatly tied up at the back of her head, giving her a sharp and capable appearance. The official duties before her were nearly completed.

After handling the last document, Asuna stretched her stiff joints, stood up, and walked out.

She had three adjutants, but during this special period, all three were extremely busy.

Lin Dusheng had abandoned his duties to go with Levin, and before leaving, he had ordered her to go to the Military Academy Star as his successor, just in case.

Today was the deadline; she had to go to the Military Academy Star.

Asuna opened the door, and outside stood a baby-faced yet tall and burly alpha male.

As soon as he saw Asuna, the baby-faced alpha's eyes welled up with tears, looking like an abandoned puppy.

"Take me with you~ Darling, I really don't want to stay here like a widow..."

Asuna mercilessly refused her partner, "No, you are the Deputy Commander of Judgment Sword. After I leave, you must hold down the fort at headquarters."

The baby-faced alpha cursed that bastard Lin Dusheng for the billionth time in his heart, while gently tugging at his partner's sleeve and starting his tearful performance.

"Darling~ please let me go with you. Isn't Shi Zijun here? He can handle it. Don't leave me all alone... I'm scared..."

As he spoke, the alpha began to cry.

Asuna remained unmoved. This trick might have worked on her at first, but after decades, she was well aware of her partner's antics. She issued an unquestionable order.

"No, you must hold down the fort at headquarters."

With that, she strode toward the port.

The baby-faced alpha refused to give up. He followed Asuna, continuing to act pitiful in an attempt to sway his iron-willed and by-the-book partner.

Unfortunately, even by the time Asuna reached the port, the baby-faced alpha couldn't change his partner's resolve.

The baby-faced alpha burst into loud, shameless sobs, clinging to Asuna and throwing a tantrum.

"Waaah... I can't live without you... Darling, just take me with you~ Shi Zijun is way more capable than me anyway. I only became Deputy Commander by pulling strings, waaah... I don't want to be apart from you..."

The other soldiers present automatically turned a blind eye. Their Deputy Commander had done this countless times.

Sometimes it really felt like their Commander was the alpha, and the Deputy Commander was the omega.

They'd never seen an alpha who cried so much...

In the end, it took the Commander threatening their Deputy Commander with a gun and divorce to make him settle down, sending off the Commander with reddened eyes.

Once the starship left the atmosphere, the baby-faced alpha's expression shifted instantly.

With a dark look, he gritted his teeth and said, "Lin Dusheng, you bastard. Damn it, you'd better hope I never get a chance. If I do, I'll definitely send a high-compatibility alpha your way."

A red-haired alpha man walked up behind him and remarked calmly, "If you want to be dismembered by Levin, just say so."

The baby-faced alpha really wanted to retort, but he truly couldn't beat Levin. He was one of those who had the floor mopped with him by Levin back in the day.

He shot a sidelong glance at the alpha man. Even though they were the same age, the other looked four or five decades more weathered...

Hah, no point arguing with a widower.

The baby-faced alpha headed back, saying to the red-haired alpha as he walked, "Let's go. The Commander ordered us to hold our posts and thoroughly investigate the Conservative Party's movements."

A sharp glint flashed in Shi Zijun's eyes.

This time

None of those scum will escape.