Chapter 64

Chapter 64

Noah's lounge was on a separate starship, occupied entirely by his trusted men. When Ruan Yunchu entered from the docking bay, he caught the faint scent of alpha pheromones in the air.

He instinctively furrowed his brow. Even though he wore a suppression ring around his neck, he couldn't help feeling irritated by the scent's interference.

"Please follow me," someone ahead of him said, guiding him with exceptional politeness—clearly on specific orders.

Ruan Yunchu paid no attention to the man's demeanor. He walked toward the inner room, bypassing an elegant front hall, and found himself surrounded by countless flowers. His expression remained unmoved as he calmly observed the scene.

Melodious music began to play. Noah appeared before him slowly, dressed in formal attire, holding a bouquet of moon-white flowers. Soft, beautiful petals still bore traces of dew, exuding a faint, fresh fragrance.

But as Noah drew closer, the alpha's pheromones grew more distinct. Ruan Yunchu couldn't control the deepening frown on his face and made no move to take the flowers.

"Yunchu, I always thought this bouquet suited your temperament. I hope you like it," Noah said, striking a deeply affectionate pose.

Ruan Yunchu glanced down at it briefly, then said calmly, "Sorry, I'm allergic to pollen."

At his words, Noah's expression shifted slightly. He tossed the flowers aside casually. "Get rid of it."

"Yes, sir."

The people around immediately changed their expressions and swiftly cleared out all the floral decorations in the room. Noah led him into the now-cleaned inner area, his face showing some chagrin.

"Sorry, your profile didn't mention that."

"It's fine."

Ruan Yunchu offered no further explanation.

Noah's face was flushed from drinking, and he had shed his usual cruelty and ruthlessness, yet he still couldn't project an innocent impression.

"Yunchu, you're very smart. You've probably guessed what I want to say this time. From the very first meeting, I've liked you. You..."

He spoke a lot in one breath, as if trying to prove his sincerity. But watching him like this, Ruan Yunchu couldn't help recalling a similar scene—the time Yan Zhuo had confessed to him.

That confession hadn't been formal. As someone hiding his identity, Yan Zhuo had often concealed his declarations beneath jokes, but the genuine feelings had been as dazzling as the Alliance headquarters standing in the center of A Star—so bright that no matter how hard he tried to ignore them, he couldn't.

"Yunchu?"

Noah had finished his prepared speech. After waiting a long time without a response, the small hope in his heart faded.

Given their current relationship, he didn't need to grovel for Ruan Yunchu's consent. If he wanted, he could take the man back to a barren star and make him his possession completely, right then and there.

But for some reason, Ruan Yunchu's cold and distant demeanor stirred a strong sense of conquest within him. He wanted to turn this aloof omega entirely into his own, and he wanted to see those eyes look at him with admiration or trust.

He could imagine how exhilarating it would feel when that day truly came.

Still... even if Ruan Yunchu refused, it didn't matter. He was determined to have this man.

"Noah." Ruan Yunchu pondered for a moment before speaking. "Don't you think saying this now sounds too much like a joke?"

Noah hadn't expected such a question. In his mind, there were only two possible answers—acceptance or rejection. Either way, he had already decided what would follow.

"A joke? I'm serious."

Ruan Yunchu: "We've only known each other for such a short time. How can you talk about liking me already?"

Noah frowned deeply, struggling to understand. "What does time have to do with it? Or are you trying to say I'm not as good as your previous alpha?"

"Of course you're not," Ruan Yunchu said matter-of-factly, ignoring the darkening expression on the man before him. "It took him nearly a year to reveal his feelings. You haven't even reached a fraction of that."

Noah had never been spoken to like this. He clenched his fists, narrowing his eyes. "So what? You think I'm lying to you? I don't have the leisure to play such pranks."

"Take it however you like. That's your choice."

Seeing Ruan Yunchu's indifferent look, Noah felt a surge of frustration. He took this as a rejection, yet he couldn't bring himself to give up.

"So? Are you telling me I should wait another year before saying this? That's absolutely impossible."

He didn't have that kind of patience. Besides, Ruan Yunchu was merely their captive. Whatever he wanted to do to this man was allowed.

"The timeline isn't set by me," Ruan Yunchu said calmly.

Noah: "What do you mean?"

"Emotions require sincerity. If it only took words, I could say 'I like you' right now to deceive you. But unfortunately, that wouldn't work. Even if I said I liked you, you probably wouldn't believe me, would you?"

This struck a chord with Noah.

Though he hoped Ruan Yunchu would accept his pursuit, if the other man expressed the same feelings, he wouldn't trust him either.

Vaguely, he understood.

"So you want me to court you?"

Ruan Yunchu did not confirm or deny.

Noah hesitated.

His original plan had been to claim him tonight. War with the Alliance was imminent, and he sensed time was running out.

But Ruan Yunchu's words were also tempting. If a brief courtship could win the man's willing consent, it would be worth it.

Still uneasy, he couldn't help asking, "So do you have any feelings for me now? Surely not none at all."

After all, since Ruan Yunchu had arrived on their turf, Noah had been very attentive to him.

Ruan Yunchu thought for a few seconds, then said, "You should be able to tell for yourself."

Noah seemed to understand, adopting a contemplative expression.

Ruan Yunchu waited quietly for him to speak, maintaining a calm, indifferent exterior while a faint ripple of tension stirred within him.

Faced with these unpredictable rebels, he had no full assurance. He kept reminding himself that these were people walking on a tightrope, and their way of thinking was fundamentally different from ordinary folks.

Noah remained silent for a long time, his gaze fixed on Ruan Yunchu, as if seriously considering something.

Finally, he gave a faint, ambiguous smile. Slowly stepping forward, he gently placed an arm around Ruan Yunchu's shoulder. The moment Ruan Yunchu saw the shift in his expression, he sensed Noah's intention, and his heart sank heavily.

Noah leaned close to his ear, speaking with a dangerous smile, "I'm sorry, Yunchu. I'm a man ready to die at any moment. I'm afraid I don't have much time to play this game with you. But if there's a chance, I'll make it up to you."

The instant his words faded, Ruan Yunchu abruptly looked up and thrust sharply at him.

He moved fast. Noah barely caught a glint of silver in his peripheral vision. After a moment's hesitation, a sharp sting tore across his cheek.

The faint scent of pheromones intensified as blood spread. Realizing Ruan Yunchu had another move, Noah released a burst of oppressive pheromones. The man before him staggered, barely keeping his footing under the powerful wave.

Noah caught him in one smooth motion, raised a hand to wipe his face, wiping off the mottled blood, his eyes cold and sharp.

"I knew you were trouble."

Under the influence of the pheromones, Ruan Yunchu's mind grew hazy, the familiar feeling of being controlled causing him extreme discomfort.

The next instant, the faint scent of bauhinia mixed with a sharp spike of mental force suddenly invaded Noah's mind. He gritted his teeth and fought back fiercely.

The violent mental force was countered, and sharp stabs of pain shot through Ruan Yunchu's temples. He could barely see, everything going black.

He let out a low groan, his exhalation ending with a faint, barely perceptible tremor. The alpha's large hand gripped his neck like an eagle's claws, hot breath rushing at him, as if it wanted to swallow him whole.

"But, spicy enough. I like it."

Noah gave an ambiguous smile, grabbed him and tossed him onto the large bed, tearing open his constricting suit collar.

Ruan Yunchu's body was burning hot, his mind still spinning, and making him feel nauseated. He could vaguely make out Noah approaching him, and the rejection and disgust inside him almost spilled out.

Noah knelt with one knee on the bed, about to lean down and grab the slender ankle, when suddenly there was a frantic knock at the door.

"Is Mr. Ruan here? Noah!"

Noah's mood ruined, his face instantly darkening. He turned and roared, "Get out!"

But the usually obedient subordinate didn't leave. Instead, he hesitated outside and said, "There's trouble at the lab; they need Mr. Ruan to come over."

Noah: "Will they die without him? Don't come disturbing us tonight!"

His patience had reached its limit; he couldn't make any more concessions, but the person outside was still knocking as if they didn't care if they lived.

Unable to take it anymore, Noah suddenly got up and strode towards the door, opening it.

"Do you have a death wish?"

The subordinate trembled, his eyes fearful, like he was about to kneel right there.

"The Chief has gone to the research lab as well; Mr. Ruan must go there tonight, or the Chief might come looking for him personally."

At this, Noah finally realized the seriousness of the situation.

He clenched his fists tightly, filled with reluctance, but had no choice but to compromise.

"..."

When leaving Noah's starship, Ruan Yunchu's steps were still unsteady. His mind was not clear, and the strong smell of Noah's pheromones, like smoke from gunpowder, still lingered in his nose, making him feel like vomiting.

There were unusually many people at the research lab entrance. When they saw Ruan Yunchu, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

After changing his clothes and being thoroughly cleaned by a machine, the unpleasant odor finally dissipated. He felt a bit better and could finally be in the right frame of mind to observe his surroundings.

The people on both sides seemed to have all been scolded; they were all heads down, looking nervous.

Entering the research lab, Ruan Yunchu's gaze was drawn to the glass room in the middle that had always been empty. Inside, there was a person frantically hitting the glass walls with his head, already bleeding heavily.

It was 502.

Ruan Yunchu's heart sank. The next second, the Chief saw him and asked urgently, "What happened?"

The researcher nearby stepped forward to explain the situation.

"502 was triggered on the way back to his room and launched an attack on dozens of people. We used the usual sedative and did a preliminary check, but none of it worked. What did you do to him?"

Facing the accusation, Ruan Yunchu showed no panic. He slowly approached the glass room and stood in front of the blood-stained glass, assessing 502's state.

502 was trapped in the glass room and looked extremely agitated. Even though their eyes met for a moment, he didn't react.

This completely shattered Ruan Yunchu's initial guess. He had thought that 502 understood his hint and was acting specifically to save him, but the truth was that he had been mistaken.

"Show me his condition."

He said coldly. Then he quickly threw himself into work.

Soon, 502 was calmed down with five shots of sedative and was taken to the research bed.

Ruan Yunchu checked the specific data. Out of the corner of his eye, he could still see the Chief sitting outside, who seemed to value 502 highly and was not wanting to leave.

Before long, they finally found the abnormal reading.

"This is..." the researcher leaned in to check.

"An allergen." Ruan Yunchu sighed in relief. "A small issue. It's better to catch this kind of thing early. Keeping them locked in a sterile room all the time does them no good."

Before long, 502 slowly opened his eyes again, now back to normal. Lying on the bed, he looked at Ruan Yunchu blankly, asking with his eyes what was going on.

"It's nothing, just a routine check." Ruan Yunchu reassured him.

502 nodded obediently. After a moment, he whispered, "I want to go back to reading."

The researcher recording the situation glanced at him in surprise, then looked at Ruan Yunchu.

"You'll go back in a little while."

Ruan Yunchu paid no attention to anyone's gaze. After finishing the check on 502 and waiting for them to wrap up, he left the room first.

The Chief outside had already received the news that 502 was safe, but he still hadn't left. He only slowly stood up after Ruan Yunchu came out.

"Thank you. I see that 502 has improved a lot. It was the right call to let you take him in."

Ruan Yunchu said nothing, just glared at him coldly.

Seeing someone glare at their Chief like that, the nearby subordinate's face darkened. But before he could speak, the Chief said first, "Noah is being too reckless. I'll warn him about this. Please be assured. Since you are working for us, I'll have your back."

"It had better be."

"I'll have him apologize to you. Is that acceptable?"

"..."

After all, he was in someone else's territory. Ruan Yunchu couldn't push for more. Despite his extreme dissatisfaction, he still agreed to this solution.

502 didn't come back with him that day; he only came back to the room to see him three days later.

At that time, Noah had just been there. The wounds on his face hadn't scabbed over yet. He reluctantly apologized to Ruan Yunchu but almost got his nose hit by the slammed door.

502 looked at the person standing at the door with confusion and used his keycard to swipe the door open.

Ruan Yunchu was sitting on the edge of the bed. When he heard the sound, he didn't turn around. 502 thought he was busy and obediently sat on the carpet. He opened the folded book, ready to continue reading, when suddenly he heard Ruan Yunchu speak.

"It's nothing."

His tone was still indifferent, but there was something subtly different from usual.

502 couldn’t quite describe that feeling—it was too subtle, something he, who had spent over a decade in a sterile research lab, could never fully comprehend.

But he knew it wasn’t directed at him, so he lowered his head and continued with his own matters.

Ruan Yunchu sat by the bed, listening to the voice coming from the disposable communicator. The feeling of being wronged he had felt a few days earlier inexplicably welled up, but he was never one to confide in others, so he just explained the internal situation of the rebel forces point by point.

Yan Zhuo listened and asked in a low voice about his condition. Hearing the word "fine," he let out a helpless chuckle.

"Sweetheart, how am I supposed to feel at ease like this? Has someone been bullying you?"

Ruan Yunchu was silent for two seconds before changing the subject. "How much longer do you need?"

"Not long. We’re deploying now, but the starships are too close together—we need to wait for the right moment."

"What about him?"

Yan Zhuo paused for two seconds before answering, "I’ve already got someone watching him."

Ruan Yunchu didn’t say anything more.

Yan Zhuo was forced to explain: "I understand. It’s not that I’m reluctant to act against him, but he still has his uses. 04 knows the identities of the first three individuals. They’re very likely the original traitors who helped the rebel forces."

"I understand. It’s a high-level alliance secret—you don’t need to tell me." Ruan Yunchu’s tone was flat. "I know my limits."

"Xiaochu." Yan Zhuo let out a heavy sigh. He had so much to say, but in the end, he didn’t add any further explanations and simply said with deep emotion, "I miss you. Every second of every day."

Ruan Yunchu stayed still, listening to the countdown of the communicator’s self-destruction.

In the last five seconds, he murmured, "Stay safe."

Before Yan Zhuo could respond, the communicator emitted a crisp click and went completely dead.

The room fell silent again.

502 was flipping through an obscure, boring book when he suddenly sensed someone sitting down in front of him. He looked up and smiled at the person in front of him.

"They’ve cut us out of their plans." Ruan Yunchu looked thoughtful. "Did you run into anyone from the alliance?"

502 didn’t quite understand but answered honestly, "I ran into the person I saw in the kitchen earlier, then I passed out."

"Got it." Ruan Yunchu patted his head. "The outside will be dangerous in the next few days. Don’t wander off."

"Okay. I’ll protect you," 502 said.

Ruan Yunchu let out a soft laugh and didn’t say anything else. He just watched 502 lower his head and focus on the book, the hideous scar on his forehead still prominent. Ruan Yunchu’s expression turned serious.

The frontline was brutal. The alliance and the rebel forces had been tangled up for too long. This time, both sides were prepared to crush the other, and neither could afford to hold back.

502 had been forcibly induced into a frenzy this time, and there were many more 'people' like him in the lab. In the basement, the carriers of superior genes awaiting cloning were also bound to be at risk when the fighting started.

He had to come up with a way to protect as many of them as possible.