Chapter 31: 031
The blatant gaze and straightforward words, combined with that handsome yet aggressive face, stained the cold space with a strange color. It was as hot and brilliant as the scorching sun.
Treated this way by Z, Zhu Ran felt nothing except for instinctive wariness. Facing a person who was not in their right mind, he was extremely calm. He glanced at the data on the monitoring device: [Spiritual Sea Fluctuation Value: 59].
It had decreased by 16 since he first entered. As long as it decreased by another 29 to reach below 30, stabilizing Z’s spiritual sea, he could inject the medicine.
Zhu Ran took a tentative step forward. Z’s gaze fell on Zhu Ran and did not move; his look was unmasked, as if he could strip Zhu Ran bare and eat him.
Zhu Ran then took another step forward, and then another. Slight footsteps echoed in the empty room, stepping rhythmically on the heartbeat. Finally, Zhu Ran walked safely to stand in front of Z.
The distance between them was very close, with only a fist’s breadth of space remaining. Zhu Ran could even smell the scent of blood radiating from Z and feel the other person’s elevated body temperature. Z’s breathing grew heavy.
“I’m here. Now what?”
As he spoke, Zhu Ran channeled his spiritual power, causing the fragrance of the lavender to spread. Waves of clear scent bloomed, filling the cold, metal-scented room with a sheet of clear sweetness.
Z’s gaze was completely drawn to Zhu Ran. His entire aura was like that of a predator locking onto its prey, staring fixedly at Zhu Ran, yet in the next moment, because of the pleasant scent, he unconsciously revealed a look of infatuated surrender.
Such a fragrant smell… he wanted it… it was his…
Z lowered his head and leaned close to the crook of Zhu Ran’s neck, sniffing here and there, like a large cat inhaling catnip, lingering on the aura he loved. His violent and disordered spiritual sea captured the scent of its favored object, and so they rushed forward in a scramble, swallowing up the sliver of grass-green that had fallen into the raging sea until it was completely gone.
It wasn’t enough… he wanted more…
Because he could not be satisfied, a flash of violence passed through Z. He suddenly opened his mouth, his sharp teeth about to pierce Zhu Ran’s fair neck once more to plunder more sweetness.
Zhu Ran chuckled softly. He tilted his face, dodging Z’s movement.
“I’ve already let you bite me once. How could I let you bite me a second time?”
At this point, Z’s spiritual sea stability value had slowly dropped to below 50. Zhu Ran continued to use himself to guide Z’s attention. Because of Zhu Ran’s movement, the prey in hand had escaped his control, causing Z to let out a dissatisfied low moan.
“Mine…”
“Oh? Yours? Are you sure?”
As Zhu Ran spoke, he reached out his hands and cupped Z’s face. His soft hands touched Z’s high-fever skin, like a clear spring extinguishing a source of continuous heat. Because of the close contact, waves of the unique scent drifted into Z’s nose.
His body and soul were satisfied for a moment. Z closed both eyes, looking satiated. His scorching, rapid breathing became steady. Z tilted his head, wanting to nuzzle that piece of cold vanilla sugar.
However, Zhu Ran pulled his hands away by a few centimeters. Z frowned in dissatisfaction and immediately pressed his face against them again. Because of this movement, Z revealed a section of his elegantly curved neck, covered in bloodstains and exuding a fragile sense of beauty.
Zhu Ran’s tone remained calm: “Don’t be in a hurry. Take it slow.”
Messy golden hair fell onto Zhu Ran’s fair fingers, making his skin feel a bit itchy. However, the scorching heat under his palms made Zhu Ran’s fingertips curl slightly. It was truly very hot.
The stability value was slowly descending: 43… 38… 35…
And the temperature of Zhu Ran’s palms also gradually rose because he had been touching Z’s face. Under the scent of lavender, the body temperatures of the two gradually tended toward consistency, like the blending of water and fire until they were indistinguishable from one another.
Intoxicated by the pleasing aura, Z’s face was now resting peacefully on Zhu Ran’s palm, his aura calm. He was like a sleeping beast, so peaceful that one wouldn’t want to ruin the picture.
Seeing this, Zhu Ran said softly, “Be good, okay?”
As soon as he finished speaking, he quickly pulled out a syringe and slammed it into Z’s neck. Cold liquid was instantly injected into Z’s body.
The sudden pain caused Z to go berserk almost in an instant. A violent aura poured out, turning the air in the entire room into a churning mess. The spiritual net protecting Zhu Ran was shredded like fragile paper.
However, in the next moment, just as the violent spiritual power was about to touch the hem of Zhu Ran’s clothes, those beautiful heterochromatic eyes suddenly became clear.
Cannot… hurt him again.
The chaotic aura suddenly turned into bubbles and dispersed, and even the pressure heavy enough to crush a person vanished without a trace in an instant.
Zefaer panted hoarsely, his breathing rapid and heavy. He regained consciousness in an instant, coming face-to-face with Zhu Ran’s emerald green eyes.
“Very beautiful.”
Subsequently, his body, weakened by heavy injuries and the spiritual sea riot, could no longer hold out. Zefaer fell into a coma. His head drooped, resting in the hollow of Zhu Ran’s shoulder. Enveloped by the aura that made him feel safe, Zefaer, who had been trapped by violence and darkness, fell into a deep sleep amidst the fragrant warmth.
Zhu Ran did not push Z’s head away with dislike this time, but he stood stiffly in place, his hands hanging unnaturally at his sides. If one looked closely, they could see that the tips of Zhu Ran’s ears were a bit red. The high body temperature, the pleasant scent, and Z’s occasionally blunt words had caused Zhu Ran’s heartbeat to become a bit erratic.
He took two deep breaths before he could stabilize his emotions.
Huinai, who had been waiting outside the door, burst in at this moment: “Zhu Ran, are you okay! I felt a spiritual sea riot. His Maje—compared to last time… how is Z’s condition?”
Because he was a bit distracted, Zhu Ran didn’t notice Huinai’s slip of the tongue. Maintaining the posture of Z leaning on him, he replied, “When his stability value dropped to around 30, I gave him an injection. He’s passed out now.”
“Thank you so much! If it weren’t for you, I don’t know who else could have done this.” Huinai was full of gratitude, and the dark clouds hanging over his heart vanished. He was lucky that Zefaer had come to this D-rank planet and met Zhu Ran, and lucky that… Zhu Ran was a kind and gentle person.
As he approached Zhu Ran, he saw Zefaer leaning on Zhu Ran’s shoulder, their hair intertwined. This posture was a bit overly intimate. Huinai felt a bit awkward, so his eyes drifted elsewhere. “What a fragrant smell; this is lavender, right? I followed your shop teaser.”
“Yes, it is. Lavender itself has a sleep-aiding effect, and the scent is very special.”
As Zhu Ran spoke, he unlocked the shackles on Z’s body, creating a series of crisp clattering sounds. Huinai came to Zhu Ran’s side, wanting to help unlock the shackles. Who knew that this time would be just like the last? As soon as Huinai approached Zefaer, Zefaer’s body leaned toward Zhu Ran, sticking closely to him. This clearly showed that Zefaer did not welcome Huinai’s approach.
Being pressed against by a hot person, Zhu Ran’s body also stiffened slightly before returning to normal.
“I’ll help him unlock the shackles. You go call the doctor.”
“Okay.”
Seeing that he couldn’t help here, Huinai ran quickly to find the doctor. Within a few minutes, Huinai returned with the doctor and several machines. At the same time, a row of military officers with bright yellow epaulets stood in the original interrogation room.
Just like last time, because Z wouldn’t let anyone except Zhu Ran get close, Zhu Ran accompanied Z through the entire medical examination. Thus, he also learned how terrible the state of Z’s spiritual sea was.
“He just got a bit better and then lost control again. Don’t you all know that if this continues, he won’t have ten years left to live?”
“Spiritual sea damage rate of 94.3%! Do you know what that means? Once it exceeds 95%, the cure rate is close to 0%.”
“The only good news is that the spiritual sea stability value dropped to around 18. This riot can be considered controlled.”
…
The doctor rubbed the bridge of his nose, looking extremely exhausted. “I’ll leave the external injury medicine here. Apply it to him when you have time.”
After sending off the roaring doctor, Huinai sighed, his expression heavy. He wanted to say something to Zhu Ran, but in the end, he only opened his mouth and didn’t say a single word.
Zhu Ran saw through it. He remembered that last time when Z was about to leave his house, Huinai also had this kind of expression, wanting to speak but hesitating.
“Is there something you want to say, Huinai?”
Zhu Ran spoke while undressing Z to apply the medicine. Because of the electrocution, the skin under Z’s clothes was covered in burn marks; the skin was red in some places and black in others, with almost no part left uninjured. Especially the places where the metal shackles had been—wrists, ankles, neck, waist, chest… the injuries were even more severe, a mess of blood and flesh.
Zhu Ran frowned and applied the medicine to Z without a change in expression. Huinai assisted Zhu Ran from the side, handing him bandages.
“I… I have no right to say anything on his behalf.”
“However, the natural plants you grow are useful for stabilizing his spiritual sea—more useful than those from the research institute.”
“He took the initiative to request this punishment today. The day before I picked him up from your house, he told me to prepare the inhibitor and the interrogation room. I tried to persuade him for a long time, but he was very persistent, and then it turned into this…”
Huinai did not try to persuade Zhu Ran from a subjective perspective; he only stated the facts. Along with Huinai’s explanation, the impression of Z being “cold-faced but warm-hearted” in Zhu Ran’s eyes was gradually replaced by the impressions of being “strictly law-abiding,” “stubborn,” and… “hard-mouthed.”
Z was stubbornly insisting on taking responsibility for his actions. Although it was right to accept punishment for doing something wrong, no one said he had to use this method that almost killed him. Besides, Zhu Ran himself hadn’t said anything about the incident of Z breaking into his home last time.
As for being “hard-mouthed,” isn’t that obvious? He says nothing, doesn’t communicate, makes people guess, and even needs Huinai to be his mouthpiece…
“When he wakes up, I’ll have a talk with him.”
Zhu Ran finished wrapping the bandages and helped Z put on his clothes. Meanwhile, Zefaer still leaned his head on Zhu Ran’s shoulder, his two hands naturally encircling Zhu Ran’s waist, looking as if he regarded Zhu Ran as his own possession.
“He’ll stay at my place for the next few days. I’ll change his medicine on time.”
“I’ll contact you if anything happens.”
Huinai nodded. “I’ll have to trouble you again for the next few days.”
By the time Zefaer woke up again, it was already the next morning. In a strange environment, he should have been alert, but… the familiar aura in the room and the soft bedding made Zefaer relax. He was in Zhu Ran’s home.
the electric shock injuries on his body had all been bandaged. From the bandaging technique and the light fragrance on the bandages, Zefaer recognized that Zhu Ran had done it. So… had Huinai contacted Zhu Ran after all?
Zefaer stared at the ceiling and blinked twice. What happened yesterday in the interrogation room gradually surfaced. In his blurred consciousness, the scent of Zhu Ran unique to the clear floral fragrance had fully enveloped him. That soft touch and gentle voice had soothed his wildly chaotic emotions while also causing his inner thoughts to be revealed in their entirety.
Come here…
I want you…
Very beautiful…
Zefaer’s heart suddenly skipped a beat. He was panicked. He closed his eyes weakly, wanting to submerge himself in darkness to force himself not to think about anything. However… how could he easily forget the words he had spoken himself yesterday?
The exposed skin turned a faint pink, and the stirred-up emotions caused heat to surge. He grabbed the blanket with his hand, his thoughts incredibly complicated. He had lost his composure.
After a short while, Zhu Ran entered Zefaer’s room with replacement bandages. After entering, what Zhu Ran saw were Z’s familiar, beautiful heterochromatic eyes and his excessively weak, pale appearance. Z in this state seemed no different from a few days ago.
Zhu Ran spoke calmly: “You’re awake.”
The moment Z made eye contact with Zhu Ran, he looked away. He lowered his head submissively: “I’ve caused you trouble.”
Zhu Ran’s voice was a bit cold: “If you know it’s trouble, can’t you take good care of yourself?”
Z answered mechanically: “I did something wrong; it is only right that I be punished.”
“Yes… punished until I have to take care of you again.”
Z was silent for a moment. “I’m sorry.”
Zhu Ran sat on the edge of the bed and threw the blanket off Z, his movements carrying a hint of irritation.
“Since I’m the one you offended, shouldn’t it be up to me to decide how to punish you?”
Zhu Ran looked directly at Z, his gaze burning.
Translator’s Note
Key Terms Recap:
- Spiritual Sea Stability Value (精神海穩定值): A measure of how calm or chaotic the spiritual power is. The lower the number, the more stable.
- A-rank Alien Beast (A級異獸): A high-level monster used as a benchmark for the strength of the electric chair.
- Bright Yellow Epaulets (明黃色肩章): These signify high-ranking or specialized guards within the military prison.
- Hard-mouthed (嘴硬 – zuǐ yìng): A common Chinese expression for someone who is stubborn and refuses to admit their feelings or mistakes out loud.
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