Chapter 38

Chapter 38

"Nevi [Nevi], Nevi, how are you feeling? Why did you suddenly collapse? I only just found out you were in the medical room when I saw Paz [Paz]..."

Suddenly, accompanied by a burst of anxious concern, the figure of President Pegita [Pegita] appeared in the small compartment.

Pegita walked hurriedly, sweat on his brow, clearly having rushed over upon learning of Nevi's condition.

The commotion caused Bai Bai [Bai Bai], who was sleeping lightly in Nevi's arms, to stir restlessly.

Nevi quickly patted Bai Bai's back to soothe him, while quietly reassuring Pegita, "Uncle Pegita, don't worry, I'm fine..."

But soon, the faint smile on Nevi's face gradually faded.

Because following President Pegita were Primo [Primo] and... Makaji [Makaji], who appeared in Nevi's line of sight.

Primo's face bore worry and concern very similar to Pegita's.

But Makaji, who lagged a step behind Primo, looked languid and self-satisfied. When he saw Nevi looking at him, not only did he show no fear or regret, he almost arrogantly curled his lips upward, raised two fingers to his lips in a light touch, his eyes full of warning.

Clearly telling Nevi to keep his mouth shut.

Nevi pressed his lips tightly together, his fingers clenching the blanket on the bed.

Nausea and rising anger churned and surged in Nevi's heart, making his already stuffy chest even more uncomfortable.

"Nevi, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell again? I'll go get a medic bug!" Pegita, extremely perceptive, noticed Nevi's change, but he didn't know the reason.

Seeing Pegita's undisguised worry and concern, Nevi's clenched hand tightened for a moment, then slowly relaxed. He lowered his eyes and silently shook his head.

Nevi had his concerns, but Barlow [Barlow] did not.

Having witnessed Makaji's arrogant display with his own eyes, he let out a heavy cold snort.

Then he called Paz over, and the two of them each carried the sleeping Bai Bai and Mei Mei [Mei Mei] to the next room.

With Bai Bai and Mei Mei gone, Barlow seemed to have no more reservations.

The moment he returned to the compartment, he coldly stared at Makaji, whose expression had shifted slightly, and said bluntly and sharply, "Makaji, don't you know what happened to Nevi? How do you still have the face to show up here?!"

Pegita and Primo's expressions froze, seemingly completely confused about the situation. They turned to look at their son and asked, puzzled, "Makaji, what's going on here?"

At this moment, Makaji was truly panicked. His eyes flickered, and he could no longer maintain his previous composure.

The moment his mother and father looked at him, the shock and disbelief on his face weren't even fully concealed.

He had dared to come here clearly because he assumed Nevi wouldn't dare speak up, but he never expected that the one to throw all caution to the wind would be Barlow, whom he'd never considered.

Facing everyone's gaze, especially his father's and mother's increasingly doubtful scrutiny, Makaji forced himself to say, "Barlow, I know you don't like me, but you can't slander me. Just now, I did chat with Nevi for a bit and had a drink, but after that, Nevi was taken away by Joelson [Joelson]. I don't really know what happened after that. You'd better go ask Joelson."

Makaji was no fool. After getting through the initial panic, he quickly composed himself and, feigning grievance and innocence, deflected attention by glossing over the important details.

Seeing this, Pegita really thought there might be a misunderstanding. He said gently, "Barlow, could there be some misunderstanding here? Don't rush, speak slowly. Once everything is out in the open, it'll be fine..."

Hearing his father speak up for him, Makaji's expression didn't change, but his whole demeanor relaxed noticeably, and a flicker of smugness flashed in his eyes, barely concealed.

But all of this was observed by Primo, who had been quietly watching him from the side.

Primo's heart sank at once. He looked at his son in a daze, feeling that the child he knew had become a stranger in that moment.

"Makaji, you're still making excuses! Dare you deny that you tricked Nevi into drinking that strong liquor to cloud his mind? If it weren't for Joelson, where were you planning to take Nevi? Do you dare say it clearly in front of your mother and father? If it weren't for you, how would Nevi have gotten drunk, and how would Joelson have fed him the spicy lemon that caused his allergic reaction? Do you dare say none of this has anything to do with you?" Barlow demanded harshly.

He had truly thrown all caution to the wind and burned all bridges.

He, Paz, and the others really did despise Makaji, because he was frivolous and dissolute.

Many male insects in the association had been either directly or subtly propositioned by Makaji.

Including Paz, Budlay [Budlay], and also Barlow.

At the time, Barlow had just recently married his spouse. Because Makaji was the son of the president who had shown him much kindness, Barlow initially treated Makaji with friendliness and warmth. But afterward, Makaji would always deliberately or inadvertently flirt and hint at Barlow.

Barlow initially thought he was being oversensitive, until Makaji, unable to contain himself, directly made his intentions clear to Barlow. This shocked Barlow and filled him with disgust.

Makaji's status meant he would never become a concubine, but Makaji also knew Barlow already had a spouse. Clearly, Makaji was just looking for a fling.

Out of respect for President Pegita, after several clear rejections, Makaji still wouldn't back off, forcing Barlow to request an assignment in another district just to get away from him.

Since then, Barlow's view of Makaji had become extremely negative. When he later happened to find out that Paz and others had also experienced Makaji's harassment, his opinion of Makaji worsened even further.

After that, whenever Barlow happened to encounter Makaji at the Male Insect Association, he would keep his distance and give him the cold shoulder.

Barlow had thought Makaji was merely of poor personal character, but still had some moral bottom line.

But what happened with Nevi completely shattered Barlow's perception.

Barlow had been too naive. What kind of bottom line could a male insect who frivolously and wantonly flirted around with everyone have?

Barlow regretted it. He deeply regretted that when Makaji had harassed him, he hadn't torn off Makaji's hypocritical mask out of respect for the president.

Perhaps it was his and the other male insects' repeated tolerance that had allowed Makaji to become increasingly brazen.

With old and new grudges piling up, Barlow's gaze at Makaji grew even more disgusted, and his accusations became increasingly blunt and sharp.

Pegita was utterly dumbfounded. Barlow's accusations struck him as absurd at first.

How could his usually proud and outstanding son do such a thing?

Pegita instinctively wanted to ask more, but when he saw Barlow, usually lively and cheerful, with an unusually cold and stern expression, his mouth opened and closed, but he couldn't find the words.

He turned to look at his son, only to happen to catch a flash of panic on his son's face.

Pegita's mind went completely blank, as if struck by a thunderbolt. He didn't know how he managed to ask in a raspy voice.

"Makaji, did you do what Barlow said?"

"Father! You don't believe me either? I really didn't do it. I did invite Nevi to have a drink, but it was just regular fruit wine. I didn't expect Nevi to get drunk on that. I just wanted to help him to the lounge to rest for a bit. Is that a crime?" Makaji retorted, his tone shocked and indignant, like someone who had been wronged, hurt and upset.

Barlow was so infuriated by Makaji's shamelessness that he was grinding his teeth, and his anger flared up.

Just as he was about to continue calling out Makaji's act, Primo, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up.

"Makaji, I'm asking you in all seriousness. Are you absolutely sure you didn't do it?"

Seeing his mother's face as calm and unreadable as ever, Makaji's heart missed a beat, but he still gritted his teeth and maintained, "Yes, Mother, I didn't do it!"

Primo looked at his son intently, a flicker of disappointment passing through his eyes. He nodded and said in a measured tone, "Alright, if you say you didn't, then your mother believes you."

Having said that, as Makaji struggled to hide his glee and Barlow stood stunned and furious, Primo nonchalantly dropped a bombshell.

“I cannot allow other insects to unjustly tarnish your reputation. Since there is a dispute, let us review the surveillance footage to see the truth clearly. Paz, please retrieve the surveillance recordings. We will wait here.”

Paz, the usual wallflower, was suddenly called upon. He stood there stunned for a moment, then, coming to his senses, acknowledged the request and turned to leave.

Makaji’s expression went blank in an instant. Watching Paz about to disappear, he was completely rattled, and he shouted to halt him while casting a displeased look at his sire. “Sire! It’s enough that you and Father believe me. Why is there any need to pull up the surveillance…”

Makaji kept talking until his face turned pale and his voice faded. As clarity slowly returned, he finally realized what was happening.

“If you didn’t do anything, what are you so nervous about?” Primo finally stopped hiding his disappointment. He looked long and hard at the child he had raised, barely containing his anger. “Are you still refusing to admit it? Do you need the footage right in front of you before you’ll confess?”

“Makaji, when did you become like this? When did your father and I ever teach you to casually bully male insects?! You have truly disappointed me.” Primo suppressed the surging emotions within him and pronounced his judgment without a second thought.

“Starting tomorrow, you will perform community service at the community service center for a full three years. I will report your situation truthfully to your school and suspend all your work arrangements.”

Makaji was a professional course instructor at a prestigious university, holding a respectable position with high social standing.

Community service at the service center was mandatory labor that insects who had committed crimes were required to participate in after completing their sentences.

Depending on the severity of the crime, they had to accumulate a certain amount of social contribution points through the required hours of service before it could be concluded.

“Sire! How can you treat me this way? You’re ruining me!” Makaji’s eyes bulged in disbelief, his face contorting into a vicious grimace. He finally tore off his mask completely. “That was just a low-ranking male insect! I’m your own flesh and blood! Why are you being so harsh on me!”

Makaji finally exposed the thoughts buried deep within him.

Nevi was merely an ordinary low-ranking male insect. Not just him—Barlow, Paz, and the others were all low-ranking male insects as well.

That was why Makaji treated them so casually and dismissively, without any qualms.

Because he didn’t respect them in his heart of hearts. He looked down on them.

They were just ordinary, low-ranking male insects with no background whatsoever.

“Slap!”

The sharp sound rang out as Pegita lowered his reddened, tingling hand, tears welling in his eyes as he snapped harshly, “Enough, Makaji! Do you even know what you’re saying? When did you become such a rank-obsessed bigot! Your sire and I have taught you since you were young to respect and cherish male insects—where did all that go?! How did you turn out like this!”

By the end, Pegita was on the verge of choking up.

That slap had been delivered without holding back, and Makaji’s once fair cheek was now swollen up with red marks.

“Makaji, your sire is trying to help you, not harm you. With such attitudes and behavior, you will eventually run into trouble, and when that day comes, neither your sire nor I will be able to protect you!” Pegita said slowly, word by word. “Makaji, your sire and I don’t have much influence. But when you are wronged, we will do everything in our power to protect you and have your back.”

“But when you run wild, we will never be your umbrella of protection! You must pay the price for your actions!”

“Tomorrow, I will have the family’s insects take you to Liujin Star. You will perform your community service there, and the family’s insects will supervise you. You will not return until you have truly come to your senses! If you cling to your twisted beliefs, then you need never come back at all!”

*

After Pegita and Primo grave and earnest apologized to Nevi on behalf of their son, they forcibly hauled away a cursing, thrashing, furious Makaji.

Shame and guilt made the two elders want to sink into the ground, too ashamed to stay any longer.

Visibly, they looked deflated and weighed down.

Discovering that their proud and outstanding son was, in truth, a deeply disguised and rotten bigot was a bolt from the blue to them.

After their family left the medical room, Barlow sighed ruefully, his heart aching only for President Pegita and Primo.

As for Makaji’s fate, he was all for it, grinning from ear to ear.

Nevi felt the same.

He might have chosen not to expose Makaji’s deeds out of consideration for President Pegita and Primo, but that did not mean he would sympathize with Makaji.

He wasn’t that much of a pushover to just smile and let an insect who coveted and hurt him off the hook.

In fact, the punishment meted out by the president and his mate brought him relief, and the dark cloud hanging over him finally lifted.

Nevi’s gaze was clear and sharp, his expression relaxed. For him, this matter was now closed.

“Hmph, I hope that twisted bastard never comes back,” Barlow muttered under his breath. Then he looked up at Nevi and said seriously, “Nevi, next time you encounter something like this, no matter who it is or who stands behind them, don’t endure it in silence. Speak up directly. The one who is wrong is never the victim—you don’t need to hold back or be afraid!”

Barlow conveyed his own feelings and experiences, drawn from what he had been through.

Nevi listened attentively, then nodded firmly in agreement.

“I understand, Barlow. Thank you!”

Barlow and Nevi exchanged a look and, without warning, both broke into laughter.

The previously tense and stifling atmosphere instantly lightened.

Just then, a deep voice suddenly cut through.

“My husband, I have returned with the surveillance footage.”

*

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Author’s note: I’ve been busy (playing) during the day these past few days. Sorry for the increasing lateness. I’ll try my best to update before midnight from now on! (I swear).

Also, I saw a gorgeous golden koi fish while out today, hehe. I’m sharing the good luck with everyone. I hope you all get a lucky boost and smooth sailing ahead! Love you all!

Thank you so much for your support. I’ll keep working hard!