Chapter 20: A Monthly Salary of 3,500
For a moment, Bai Mu couldn’t find a single appropriate thing to say. His mind was filled only with the humiliation of being caught while trying to escape. However, that didn’t mean he was going to tolerate Han Naijin pinning him down in such an ambiguous position.
Bai Mu pushed Han Naijin forcefully, trying to prop himself up, but after several attempts, their bodies hadn’t separated even by a hair’s breadth. Han Naijin’s posture was very technical; he didn’t seem to be using much strength, yet Bai Mu simply couldn’t break free from his suppression.
Taking advantage of the moment Han Naijin raised his hand, Bai Mu landed an elbow strike against Han Naijin’s ribs. However, Han Naijin didn’t even blink; clearly, he was accustomed to pain. Han Naijin immediately counter-grabbed Bai Mu’s arm and pinned him back to the ground.
Bai Mu’s back hit the ground again, and his chest instantly felt constricted. He let out a muffled cough, a hint of a metallic taste appearing in his mouth.
“Are you hurt?”
Concern surfaced in Han Naijin’s eyes, and his expression grew serious. He finally released his restraint on Bai Mu and stood up.
Bai Mu shook his head. He braced himself on the ground to stand up, but he realized his arm had no strength at all and was throbbing with pain. Sure enough, he had injured his arm when using the shield to resist the beam saber. He knit his brows and stood up with difficulty.
Then, they both realized at the same time that several heads were poking out from the windows upstairs, looking down at them.
The most obvious was a blonde head poking out from a third-floor window, looking down as if watching a good show.
The sound of the two of them falling from mid-air hadn’t been small, and it had woken the people in the building. Seeing the two of them stand up, all the windows that had been opened to watch the excitement closed simultaneously. Han Naijin straightened his clothes, let out a light cough, and returned to his usual reckless and lazy demeanor.
The night wasn’t thick. A few night lights in the manor emitted a ghostly glow, the light ethereal and blurred. The surrounding scenery looked as if it were covered in a misty veil. Bai Mu and Han Naijin stood opposite each other at a moderate distance. Bai Mu glanced at Han Naijin; the man’s profile was sharp and handsome, and his gaze was flat, carrying a rare sense of detachment.
Han Naijin met Bai Mu’s gaze without flinching. He shook his head and let out a sigh. “Ai, truly heartless.”
“Sorry,” Bai Mu said softly.
In this matter, Bai Mu was indeed in the wrong. He was speechless. However, how did Han Naijin discover his departure? From the time he went downstairs to when he started the mecha and fled, only a minute or two had passed. Unless he had been watching him without blinking, there was no way he could have discovered the escape in such a short time. Bai Mu was very confused.
After hearing the apology, Han Naijin clutched his chest with a distressed look; someone who didn’t know better would think he had truly suffered some harm. He added resentfully, “You eat mine, wear mine, use mine, and you even slept in my…”
Bai Mu’s eyes suddenly widened.
“…bed.”
Bai Mu slowly lowered his eyelids.
“And you just wanted to leave like that?”
Bai Mu felt his face heat up at the words, but his intention to leave wasn’t malicious; he just couldn’t explain it. He was silent for a moment before saying, “My staying in Laea City is of no benefit to you.”
Han Naijin nodded after hearing this, his thoughts unknown. He didn’t speak immediately but looked at him with scrutiny. The two stood in a stiff confrontation. Bai Mu avoided those sharp eyes, looking past Han Naijin toward the distance. The night was quiet, and the world was vast. He suddenly felt a bit melancholy. He heard Han Naijin speak again: “You want to leave Laea City. And then? Where do you plan to go?”
Han Naijin’s tone wasn’t as flamboyant as usual. His voice was deep and steady, yet carried a certain force that brooked no refusal.
Where? He had previously planned to go to the asteroid M2644, which was also a free city-state. His plan was to find a way to obtain a fake identity and an interstellar ticket to a neutral country there. The incident at the Ponce Casino was not small; he didn’t doubt that Imperial agents had already learned of his whereabouts. Furthermore, he had to dodge the mercenaries whose purpose remained unclear and who had been following him.
Seeing that Bai Mu didn’t answer, Han Naijin took a step forward, coming closer to him.
They were very close now—close enough that every subtle change in expression could be fully seen by the other. Every emotion they wanted to hide was laid bare. Han Naijin lowered his head slightly, stray hairs falling across his forehead. He looked directly into Bai Mu’s eyes. “You want to leave that badly?”
“It’s not that I insist on leaving,” Bai Mu’s face showed no emotion, and his voice was very cold. “It’s that I never belonged here in the first place.”
Han Naijin let out a soft laugh as he looked at him. “Then you can leave right now.”
For a moment, Bai Mu couldn’t keep up with Han Naijin’s erratic logic. If Han Naijin were willing to let him go so easily, he wouldn’t have intercepted him in the middle of the night. So what game was he playing now? Bai Mu was a bit hesitant, but he still turned around slowly, making a move to leave. He wanted to see what else Han Naijin could say.
“Only…” Han Naijin’s tone sounded very regretful. “The incident at the Ponce Casino will appear on the star network in ten minutes, including clear images of you.”
Bai Mu’s pupils suddenly dilated at the words “clear images.” His body noticeably stiffened. Bai Mu knew that Han Naijin must have investigated a lot. His medical report would also surely indicate that he had undergone criminal modification. Therefore, Han Naijin already knew he was an escaped convict whose modification was incomplete and that he feared his identity being exposed. This was his deadly point, and now it was being gripped in Han Naijin’s hand and used to threaten him.
Han Naijin gradually closed in on Bai Mu. He was significantly taller than Bai Mu, and the strong pressure of an Alpha enveloped Bai Mu, coming with even more aggression during their confrontation.
Bai Mu tilted his head slightly to meet Han Naijin’s gaze. Although the defensive line in his heart was already in peril, his expression remained flat. “The incident at Ponce Casino… isn’t that too common in Laea City? I was just an innocent person caught up in a farce.”
Han Naijin stared down at Bai Mu, wanting to find a trace of panic in his expression, but he failed. This Omega was far more composed than he had thought. Thus, he said leisurely, “If it were someone else, perhaps it would be an ordinary matter. But you are not. You are someone under the protection of the Eagle. Why lower your status?”
Bai Mu was speechless.
Han Naijin added, “Why do you think you could stay in peace for so long after causing such a commotion at Ponce Casino?”
Han Naijin’s tone was very serious, not at all like his previous carelessness. This reminded Bai Mu: previously, his sole focus was on leaving Laea City because the incident at Ponce Casino was too large and he feared exposure. Hearing Han Naijin put it this way, it was true—there were clearly many people at Ponce Casino that night, yet besides those mercenaries, no agents or such had come for him all these days. Moreover, there seemed to be no news regarding the Ponce Casino explosion on the star network. It seemed Han Naijin had suppressed the news. Realization dawned on Bai Mu, and he looked at Han Naijin.
Han Naijin replied with a faint smile and suddenly reached out to grab Bai Mu’s wrist, pulling him close. He acted like he was chatting with a familiar friend, as if the previous tension had never happened. He began to persuade him skillfully: “I think staying in Laea City is safer for you than going anywhere else, don’t you agree? How about this: you work as a mecha master here, and I’ll continue to guarantee your safety. What do you think?”
This condition was actually quite reasonable. If he weren’t in personal danger in Laea City, then there was essentially no difference between going to a neutral country and staying in Laea City; both were just temporary shelters for an escaped convict like him. Han Naijin wanted to keep him, undoubtedly valuing his skills as a mecha master. In that sense, it could be considered a fair trade.
Thinking of this, Bai Mu’s cold expression softened a few degrees. He could have a good talk with Han Naijin. Staying to work as a mecha master was fine as well; the income of a mecha master was very generous. His account in the Empire had been frozen, and he was currently very short of money. If he could earn a sum here, it would be very helpful to him.
Han Naijin was still waiting for his reply, so he asked, “Then how much is the monthly salary for me working as a mecha master here?”
Hearing Bai Mu ask this, Han Naijin naturally knew he had compromised. He raised an eyebrow at Bai Mu. “Mecha masters have strict evaluation standards. You just arrived, so you have to start as a mecha master trainee. I’ll give you 3,500 star coins a month.”
After hearing this, Bai Mu’s vision went dark, and he almost fainted from anger. Han Naijin had even detected his desire to save up a sum of money!
Leaving aside his personal thoughts, the Chief Mecha Master of the Imperial Mecha Institute had an annual salary as high as ten million star coins. Laea City was a wealthy city-state; even the driver who took him to the mecha base could earn 30,000 star coins a month, enough to live without any worries. Now, the man before him was deliberately making things difficult, giving him 3,500 a month—42,000 a year. How was he supposed to save up enough money to settle down?
He didn’t know if the earlier battle had been too intense or if he was just infuriated by Han Naijin, but Bai Mu saw stars and his body swayed. Han Naijin quickly supported Bai Mu’s left arm. Bai Mu immediately shook him off. He used a bit of force, and the tendons and bones in his arm felt as if they were being snapped. Bai Mu bore it without making a sound, but his brows were knit together.
Han Naijin was also amused by his own nonsense. He lowered his head and covered his forehead, letting out a low laugh. After laughing, Han Naijin looked down at him. “Just be satisfied. How much money does someone whose name is fake even want?”
Bai Mu looked up and met Han Naijin’s scrutinizing gaze. His expression remained impassive, but a closer look would reveal that the lines of his cheeks were noticeably tense, and his clenched fists were tighter.
Han Naijin leaned in slightly, his gaze level with Bai Mu’s. He whispered, “Then… are you willing to tell me your real identity?”
He certainly wouldn’t be able to leave today. Bai Mu didn’t want to tangle with Han Naijin any further. He bypassed Han Naijin and walked toward the building. However, Han Naijin called out to him from behind: “Wait.”
Bai Mu stopped and looked back, his tone unhappy. “What else?”
Han Naijin caught up in a few strides. As he walked, he said, “You have a prior record of escaping. The light mecha can no longer stay with you.”
Han Naijin pointed to the Little Ladybug that had been hidden in his collar.
This was to completely eliminate the possibility of him leaving.
Bai Mu stiffened his neck, unyielding. Their gazes clashed silently for several rounds. Han Naijin seemed to have made up his mind and showed no intention of backing down. At this time, Bai Mu had no bargaining chips to resist Han Naijin, nor could he afford to let their relationship become too strained. Ultimately, Bai Mu compromised again and handed the Little Ladybug over to Han Naijin.
Han Naijin tilted his chin at Bai Mu, wearing the expression of a victor.
“Han Naijin!” Bai Mu suddenly called out.
Han Naijin was taken aback. Bai Mu rarely called him by name like this.
Bai Mu stepped a bit closer to Han Naijin. He also tilted his chin at Han Naijin, his gaze carrying a hint of provocation. He extended a finger and pressed it against Han Naijin’s chest. Under Han Naijin’s confused gaze, he moved his finger slowly downward, his fingertip sliding across Han Naijin’s chest. The lines of the muscles where his finger passed had a clear texture. He could feel the skin beneath the fabric tighten noticeably. His fingertip reached the abdomen and still didn’t stop, continuing to move down slowly.
Han Naijin was a bit dazed.
Was this a hint?
No, this was an overt invitation!
What should he do? Should he accept?
But… wasn’t this change in attitude a bit too fast?
Bai Mu’s face was still cold and detached, but the movements of his hand carried a clear sense of flirtation. Han Naijin found it very jarring, yet it was precisely this mixture of taboo and temptation that produced an indescribable intrigue.
Han Naijin unconsciously swallowed. Although he hadn’t figured out Bai Mu’s intention, wherever Bai Mu’s fingertip passed felt like an electrical current was flowing, bringing waves of itchiness. His heartbeat also quickened significantly.
Han Naijin forced himself to stay calm and was about to speak when Bai Mu suddenly spun around. Before Han Naijin could react, a powerful force gripped his arm. Then, his body was swiftly sent into the air. After a dizzying spin, with a thud , Han Naijin was slammed heavily onto the ground.
Bai Mu had given him a beautiful shoulder throw!
Bai Mu gave a triumphant smile to the dazed Han Naijin lying on the ground and walked toward the building without looking back.
Han Naijin lay sprawling on the ground, somewhat caught between laughter and tears. He turned his head toward Bai Mu’s receding figure and yelled, “Hey! You’ve learned bad habits! You’re even using a beauty trap now…”
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