Chapter 82: “I’ll Sleep with You.”
Shen Zhuo and Du Xun exchanged a glance; the answer was already evident in their eyes.
Chu Baixian’s pupils reflected the green data scrolling continuously on the microcomputer:
“Using it occasionally isn’t a problem, but frequent use will damage your gland.”
“And the gland’s energy will be stored in the device.”
“Once someone takes it, they can extract your gland energy from the device.”
His expression was grave: “Moreover, once this device is detached from the mecha itself, the mecha will be unable to start, which means…”
Shen Zhuo finished what Chu Baixian wanted to say, his voice low:
“Someone knows this mecha will end up in my hands, and they want me to believe it is the Oracle.”
This matter likely had nothing to do with Xun Qing.
If Xun Qing could act that well, Shen Zhuo wouldn’t have seen through his facade.
And judging by his reaction.
He probably didn’t know that this mecha wasn’t the Oracle.
That means these things were arranged by the person who gave Xun Qing the mecha.
That person knew his rank and wanted to use someone else to do their dirty work.
Before his rank was made public, the only people who knew were his fathers, and—
Her Majesty the Queen.
That face flashed through Shen Zhuo’s mind.
Soft flaxen hair, lips red as blood.
And those gray eyes, the color of ashes after a fire.
—So, the plan was laid this early.
Just then, Shen Zhuo suddenly thought of something.
Something he had almost thrown to the back of his mind.
“I also remember during our simulated battlefield, the fifth person who appeared in the team, Jiang Shanqian. The insect tide erupted centered on him. Was that also part of the plan?”
Chu Baixian hadn’t been part of the simulated battlefield, but he could infer some cause and effect.
“You mean, someone triggered the insect tide?”
Chu Baixian looked at Du Xun, who nodded slightly:
“The Virtual Battlefield Command Center’s test report showed it was caused by him, but there was no body, so the cause couldn’t be found.”
Chu Baixian seemed to suddenly remember something.
“Do you remember the new type of humanoid Zerg?”
Shen Zhuo recalled.
That day when their ranks were broadcast, the eight students of the same year went to an office together to sign up for unit assignments.
At that time, the news they heard was that the Zerg were evolving rapidly, now possessing intelligence and resembling humans in appearance.
Hence, they were called humanoid Zerg.
“You mean…” Shen Zhuo pondered: “That fifth person who didn’t exist was actually a humanoid Zerg that infiltrated the team?”
Du Xun: “It’s possible.”
Chu Baixian nodded: “I went on a business trip to the southern battlefield and saw humanoid Zerg triggering an insect tide. They use their bodies as bait to attract low-rank swarms to feed.”
Chu Baixian paused, then looked at the mecha again.
“But I don’t understand what the mecha has to do with this humanoid Zerg.”
Du Xun lowered his eyes, looking at the device inside the mecha, a dark glint flashing deep in his gaze.
This was a point of suspicion.
Perhaps it was also the reason that woman did all this.
“I will investigate this matter,” Du Xun said, “Let’s talk about Xie Zhen.”
Chu Baixian returned the key to Shen Zhuo: “If someone did this intentionally, it’s best not to alert them—when we were pursuing Xie Zhen again, we encountered his backup.”
“As long as Xie Zhen isn’t eliminated, the gland trafficking organization will exist forever,” Du Xun said in a deep voice.
Shen Zhuo guessed that Xie Zhen was probably the long-haired alpha with glasses who injected Du Xun with the drug that day.
“There have been a lot of things these past few days. I’ve handled half of them and I’m very tired. Can you finally give me a vacation now?”
When Chu Baixian said this, he didn’t even glance at Du Xun but spoke directly to Shen Zhuo, even wanting to pat the boy’s shoulder, but was pulled back by the man.
“Talk, don’t touch.”
“Tsk.” Chu Baixian pouted. “I’m not an alpha!”
Du Xun looked at him, rarely refraining from making a retort.
An alpha willing to respect omegas doesn’t mean he can accept being forcibly turned into an omega by drugs.
From a proud, free S4 alpha.
To having a heat cycle every month, and perhaps only being able to become an omega dependent on an alpha in the future.
Chu Baixian didn’t know how long it took him to get over it.
And now he could even treat this matter as a joke.
Shen Zhuo suddenly felt uncomfortable.
“Why do you have that expression?” Chu Baixian himself was very carefree. “Alright, report finished. Grant my leave.”
Du Xun: “One week.”
“Oho?” Chu Baixian widened his eyes. “You’re so generous?”
Du Xun glanced at him: “Don’t want it?”
“Yes, yes, yes!”
Chu Baixian was afraid Du Xun would go back on his word.
He took off his military jacket and hung it on his arm, acting like he had already clocked out, grinning, “Your subject bids farewell.”
“Wait, I have something to ask you.” Du Xun then looked at Shen Zhuo, “Can you go back to the office and wait for me first?”
Shen Zhuo nodded and left first.
Leaving Chu Baixian with his arms crossed, waiting for what followed.
“The siege operation, why let them come?”
Du Xun’s face didn’t look good. “I remember you can only mobilize military personnel. Why put students in danger?”
Chu Baixian looked at him, not speaking for a long time.
After a long while, he said: “You can’t keep someone completely unaware of the danger you’re in just because you want to protect them.”
Chu Baixian took a deep breath: “I’ve made a mistake once; you can’t follow my path.”
“Shen Zhuo is someone who can share hardships with you. He also has the ability to do these things. If you tell him nothing, aren’t you afraid he’ll hate you?”
Perhaps Chu Baixian’s gaze was too sharp.
Du Xun actually had no words to refute.
After a long silence between the two, Chu Baixian spoke first, waving his hand as he prepared to leave:
“Think about it carefully yourself.”
——
Du Xun returned to the office, where documents were piled up like a small mountain on the desk.
“Can I help you look through them?”
The boy sat on the chair opposite the desk, glancing at the documents.
“Okay.” Du Xun picked out some simple, basic ones and handed them to Shen Zhuo. “You can look at these first.”
Shen Zhuo took a pen and made annotations on a blank sheet of paper first.
Half an hour later, all the documents Du Xun gave him were organized, and he handed them to Du Xun along with the annotated paper.
Du Xun checked the documents against the annotations, a look of surprise and delight flashing in his eyes:
“Madam is truly talented.”
Shen Zhuo twirled the pen in his hand a few times, resting his chin on his hand, the corners of his lips slightly hooked.
Du Xun liked the boy’s proud look very much.
With the boy’s help, the two processed the documents much faster.
But by the time everything was finished, it was already three in the morning.
Du Xun was used to staying up late, but his body hadn’t fully recovered, making him feel much more tired than before.
Rubbing his throbbing temples, Du Xun looked at Shen Zhuo, who was still persisting in front of him:
“Madam—”
Shen Zhuo propped up his forehead, making the last stroke on the document.
Looking up, before he could even see Du Xun’s face clearly, he closed his eyes.
Just as his forehead was about to hit the desktop, a large hand steadily caught his cheek.
Shen Zhuo was so tired he had fallen asleep.
Du Xun bent down, scooping up the boy’s knees and back, gently pulling him into his embrace.
The boy murmured unconsciously: “Du Xun…”
The man lowered his head and planted a kiss on his brow:
“I’m here.”
Seeming to hear this, the boy relaxed his body peacefully, leaning into the crook of Du Xun’s neck and falling into a deep sleep.
Du Xun placed Shen Zhuo on the bed.
A single bed was overly crowded for two people.
Du Xun sat by the bed, his sharp brows deep and gentle.
His eyes were full of the boy’s cute sleeping face.
Smiling with doting warmth: “You’ve worked hard, Madam.”
When Shen Zhuo woke up around six, he saw Du Xun sitting by the bed with his eyes closed.
Hearing the boy get up, he opened his eyes.
“Awake?”
The boy asked simultaneously: “Why didn’t you sleep?”
Shen Zhuo glanced at himself occupying the entire bed.
This person must have wronged himself all night to make him more comfortable.
“Come here, I’ll sleep with you.”
Shen Zhuo moved his body to the very edge, leaving enough space for Du Xun to lie down, and patted the bed surface.
Du Xun didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, but could only be pulled down to lie.
“Close your eyes.” Shen Zhuo stared at him.
Du Xun obediently complied.
After a few minutes, he opened them again, smiling helplessly at Shen Zhuo who had propped himself up halfway to look at him:
“Madam, staring at me like this, I can’t sleep.”
Shen Zhuo gave an “Oh” and casually picked up a book from the shelf nearby to flip through:
“Then do you want to hear a bedtime story?”
Du Xun wasn’t polite either: “Then I’ll trouble Madam.”
Shen Zhuo cleared his throat and began reading the content of the book:
“Type-3 Zerg characteristics: large wings, double mouthparts, and a speed of 200 kilometers per hour. First discovered in the southern battlefield in 516…”
Shen Zhuo read a paragraph before realizing this probably wasn’t suitable reading material for inducing sleep.
But just as he was about to switch books.
The sound of even breathing came from the man beside him.
Du Xun was too tired.
Shen Zhuo quietly put the book away and released some soothing pheromones.
The boy’s fingers slowly smoothed the man’s hair.
Curling his lips in a smile.
“Sweet dreams.”
——
Du Xun needed very little sleep; two hours could maintain his calm and clarity for the whole day.
But when he opened his eyes.
There was no one beside him.
The alpha’s fingertips curled, his heart sinking.
Turning his head, he saw a paper on the table, bearing Shen Zhuo’s handwriting.
[ I’m going to class in the morning. Pick me up at eleven, we’re going back to Dad’s house for lunch. ]
A short sentence, the paper seemingly still carrying the scent of Epiphyllum.
Almost instantly, it soothed the restlessness and unease in the alpha’s heart.
Du Xun took out the marriage certificate from his chest pocket.
And tucked the paper inside it.
At noon, a military vehicle bearing the command center’s emblem stopped at the entrance of Ares.
Du Xun, dressed in a solemn military uniform, got out of the car and leaned against the passenger door to wait.
The tall, long-legged alpha leaning against the black military vehicle.
The whispering around was not quiet.
Du Xun was scrolling through the status update he posted during his susceptibility period.
It was still in the headlines today.
The number of reposts below was astonishingly high, and thousands of comments were added with every refresh.
That status wasn’t posted when he was sober.
But it was something he had always wanted to tell everyone.
Du Xun chuckled lightly, in a rather good mood.
It seemed that during his susceptibility period, he didn’t only do bad things.
“Fine, your husband is here, I’ll go first.”
Across a few meters, Du Xun heard Ai Li’s voice.
Incredibly resentful.
Du Xun spoke, addressing Ai Li:
“Before, apologies.”
Ai Li could guess he was referring to the practical weekly test yesterday afternoon.
But his expression changed instantly, waving his hands as if he’d seen a ghost:
“No no no, not at all not at all not at all, don’t mention it!”
Du Xun continued: “This afternoon, I’ll have Ji Weishen send an apology gift to your dorm, alright?”
Ai Li changed his face in a second: “Brother.”
Ai Li was incredibly serious: “Little brother will absolutely block all of Shen Zhuo Zhuo’s rotten peaches dead in their tracks!”
Du Xun smiled: “Good, thank you.”
Ai Li walked away very fast.
Du Xun took Shen Zhuo’s small bag.
While opening the car door for him, he leaned down and kissed the boy’s forehead.
There was a gasp from the surroundings, accompanied by sharp screeches from the students.
Du Xun ignored it, smiling gently at the boy:
“Let’s go home.”
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