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    The damp underground was lined with pale, metallic walls on all sides, suffocating and oppressive.

    At the end of the corridor, a metal door stood open, faint light spilling through.

    Inside the cell, Song Yu lounged lazily in a chair. A sapphire stud gleamed from his left ear, his right hand draped carelessly over the armrest. Through the iron bars, his cool gaze fell on the furious Zheng Long.

    โ€œStill not willing to talk?โ€

    โ€œYou have no right to imprison me!โ€ Zheng Long slammed the metal bars again and again, the clang ringing loudly. โ€œTorture is illegal!โ€

    His lips cracked, skin pale, sweat-matted hair sticking messily to his forehead. A wretched sightโ€”so different from the arrogant figure of just days ago.

    โ€œIllegal?โ€

    It was as if heโ€™d heard something hilarious. Song Yu gave a cold chuckle. โ€œAnd when you sent assassins after me, did you think about the law?โ€

    A flicker of guilt crossed Zheng Longโ€™s eyes, but he barked back loudly: โ€œI donโ€™t know what youโ€™re talking about at all!โ€

    Song Yu slowly twisted the ring on his finger. โ€œSo you insist?โ€

    โ€œOf course!โ€

    โ€œThen Iโ€™ll just have to ask your spouse.โ€

    โ€œYunโ€‘yun?โ€ Zheng Longโ€™s panic exploded. He pounded the bars harder. โ€œWhat did you do to Yunโ€‘yun?!โ€

    Song Yu ignored him, turning casually toward the door.

    Desperate, Zheng Long let his disguise crack. Alpha pheromones burst out, filling the cell, flooding toward Song Yu like a storm.

    โ€œIโ€™ll kill you!โ€

    [01: Collecting sampleโ€”sample secured.]
    [00: Sample failed.]

    Song Yuโ€™s lips curved in mocking smile. โ€œThatโ€™s it? Pathetic.โ€

    From his waistband he drew a sidearm, spun, and put a bullet through Zheng Longโ€™s shoulder.

    โ€œAhhh!โ€ The scream echoed as Zheng Long fell back against the bars, his pheromone flare instantly weakened.

    Qin Luo arrived by Song Yuโ€™s side. โ€œGe, your pheromones alone couldโ€™ve crushed him. Why waste the ammo?โ€

    The small pistol flipped deftly through Song Yuโ€™s fingers before vanishing back into his belt. His brows knit. โ€œTrying to match pheromones against me? He isnโ€™t worthy.โ€

    Qin Luo thought it over, then nodded gravely. โ€œโ€ฆTrue. Daddy Rong might get jealous.โ€

    At that name, Song Yuโ€™s irritation spiked. He touched the stud in his earโ€”the one Rong Shi had forced on him before leaving this morning.

    His bunny was gone, and he was stuck here choking on the stench of alphas. His mood soured further; he wanted to kill someone.

    Seeing this, Qin Luo thoughtโ€”this prisoner was doomed.

    Song Yu turned to leave. โ€œThis oneโ€™s yours.โ€

    Qin Luo bobbed his head at once. โ€œYes, sir!โ€

    Once Song Yu was gone, Qin Luo gestured to the shadow guards.

    Zheng Long clutched his bleeding shoulder, gasping. Sweat drenched him. His head snapped up againโ€”only for the iron bars to spark alive with high voltage current.

    He jumped back fast, but the jolt still hit hard, dropping him to the ground in spasms.

    Qin Luo stood outside the bars, cold smile in place. โ€œWhy arenโ€™t you pretending to be a beta now?โ€

    Zheng Longโ€™s eyes rolled, voice breaking: โ€œDonโ€™tโ€ฆ donโ€™t hurt Yunโ€‘yun. Iโ€™ll confessโ€”โ€

    โ€œHis Highness giving you even one chance was only because of Daddy Rong. If this were before? Hah. You think this is a marketplace where you bargain?โ€

    Desperately, Zheng Long clawed the floor, voice cracking. โ€œPlease, please donโ€™t hurt him. If something happens to Yunโ€‘yun, I canโ€™t live eitherโ€”โ€

    โ€œWell, wellโ€”quite the romance.โ€ Qin Luo crouched low, smirking. โ€œAnd what if I had a drug that breaks a match bond?โ€

    Zheng Long froze, eyes wideningโ€”

    But Qin Luo only strolled off, leaving him hanging.


    Catching up with Song Yu, Qin Luo reported: โ€œHeโ€™s ready to crack. Wonโ€™t last the night.โ€

    โ€œWhen he talks, ship him off-world,โ€ Song Yu ordered.

    โ€œWhy not keep him here? Itโ€™s safe.โ€

    โ€œBetter safe than sorry.โ€

    They stopped before another cell.

    Guards in filter masks saluted. โ€œYour Highness. This omega is dangerous. Please wear the mask.โ€

    Song Yu glanced at the ugly thing, waved dismissively. โ€œNo.โ€

    โ€œBโ€‘butโ€ฆโ€

    Qin Luo cut in flatly, knowing Song Yuโ€™s temper. โ€œStop fussing. Open it.โ€

    โ€œYes!โ€

    The door swung open, and omega pheromones slammed outwardโ€”heavy, angry, aggressive.

    [01: His pheromone curve is twisted like a pretzel.]
    [00: No data.]
    [01: Matching samples. Roughly three minutes.]
    [00: No data, hmph.]

    Inside, bloodshot eyes glared.

    โ€œLet me go!โ€ snarled Jiang Yun.

    Song Yu stilled for half a second. Heโ€™d seen this face beforeโ€”back in the underwater base. The program chief in the control room. The same man 01 had copied to open the data vault.

    But the Academyโ€™s database listed Zheng Longโ€™s partner as a completely different person.

    How could official military filesโ€”second only to the royal databaseโ€”be so wrong?

    Chaos. Absolute chaos.

    An omega rising in the Organization had no business marrying a lowly sergeant. None of this added up.

    Jiang Yun flared more pheromones, cheeks flushing, sweat streaking his brow. He turned from Song Yuโ€”immuneโ€”to Qin Luo. โ€œRelease me.โ€

    The voice was alluring, thick with omega pheromone. Qin Luoโ€™s pulse betrayed himโ€ฆ until Song Yu smacked the back of his head.

    โ€œOw!โ€ Qin Luo clutched his skull, glaring. โ€œYou bastardโ€”pheromones arenโ€™t toys!โ€

    [01: Two samples, 100% match. Logged.]
    [00: Logged.]

    Song Yu took the chair the guards provided. His tone offhand, as if ordering snacks. โ€œRemove his glands.โ€

    Jiang Yun froze. โ€œโ€ฆYou wouldnโ€™t dare!โ€

    Song Yu sneered. โ€œAnd scoop his eyes out while youโ€™re at it.โ€

    The guards stepped forward. Jiang Yun jolted back.

    โ€œIโ€™m military personnel, you canโ€™tโ€”โ€

    โ€œTake his fingers. Slice them for samples.โ€

    โ€œYes, sir!โ€

    โ€œLet me go! Donโ€™t touch meโ€”โ€ His screams grew shrill as strong arms pinned him, collar torn back, blade pressed to his neck.

    The shriek that followed made Qin Luo look away grimacing. Too brutal even for him.

    Crouching close, he whispered to Song Yu: โ€œGe, are you really going for the eyeballs?โ€

    Song Yuโ€™s eyes gleamed. โ€œWhen have I ever joked about my enemies? Besidesโ€ฆ Rong Shi isnโ€™t here.โ€

    Qin Luo: โ€œโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€

    That last bit was the real reason, wasnโ€™t it?


    In the Imperial Palace, Advisor Yin Rong strode down the corridor, immaculate suit crisp.

    Inside the kingโ€™s study, Song Zheng signed files at his desk while Queen Ji Ling watered plants nearby.

    โ€œYour Majesty,โ€ the queen coaxed gently, โ€œthe boy knows he was wrong. Please forgive him.โ€

    Silence. Then Ji Lingโ€™s eyes darkened briefly before settling back into a tender smile. He placed the watering jug away, brewed coffee himself, and set it before the king.

    โ€œShutting him indoors in shame isnโ€™t a solution either, donโ€™t you agree?โ€

    โ€œIf he never learns his lesson, heโ€™ll keep daring.โ€ Song Zheng set down the signed file, lifted the coffee, and sippedโ€”with a frown. โ€œDidnโ€™t put sugar?โ€

    Ji Ling stiffenedโ€”topic shift, just like that? He forced patience. โ€œI thought too sweet might bother you. Just half a cube.โ€

    โ€œMake it three cubes. Two creamer.โ€

    Ji Ling: โ€œโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€

    So hamโ€‘fisted. He returned, irritated, and dumped five lumps in before serving it back. โ€œAnd the boy?โ€

    โ€œMonday. Let him attend school.โ€

    A satisfied smile curved Ji Lingโ€™s lips. โ€œI knew you loved him most.โ€

    A knock sounded. Yin Rong entered, saluted them both, and reported:

    โ€œThe Academy botched the escort of the Second Prince. He has already arrested the officials responsible.โ€

    Song Zhengโ€™s head snapped up, brows tight. โ€œExplain.โ€

    At those words, Ji Lingโ€™s brow twitched.

    โ€œThe shuttle assigned to him was empty. All escorts vanished. No explanation has been offered.โ€

    Ji Ling calmly lifted the cup, halfโ€‘lowering his eyes. โ€œSounds like children playing hide and seek.โ€

    The tone was casual, but the jab sharp: an insinuation that maybe the event wasnโ€™t realโ€”or that the prince himself was suspicious.

    โ€œOutrageous!โ€ Song Zhengโ€™s hand slammed the desk.

    Ji Lingโ€™s lips curled faintly in triumphโ€”until the king barked: โ€œTo insult the royal family! Strip Li Huating of office immediately!โ€

    Ji Ling froze midโ€‘sip. Shock lanced through him.

    This wasnโ€™t right. The kingโ€™s thinking was shiftingโ€ฆ increasing control again? Last time was only weeks ago.


    At the Academy, Rong Shi sat in Qian Fanโ€™s office, surroundedโ€”and harassedโ€”by a pack of directors.

    โ€œYour test score had better not be below 61 this time!โ€ Zhao Qiqi grumbled.

    Zheng Hai laughed, patting his belly. โ€œIgnore the old fool. Sixty flat! The system wonโ€™t even read more.โ€

    Zhao barked, โ€œIs that how you guide students?!โ€

    The noise stabbed Rong Shiโ€™s skull. He rubbed his brow. Coldly: โ€œYou called me hereโ€”for this?โ€

    โ€œNo.โ€ Qian Fan pushed through, shooing the others away. โ€œI needed you. They just refused to leave.โ€

    He sat beside Rong Shi, handing him a printed document. His smile wide: โ€œCongratulations.โ€

    Rong Shi unfolded it. Zhao and Zheng leaned overโ€”and cursed under their breath.

    โ€œHoly sh*t!โ€
    โ€œDamn impressive, kid.โ€

    Qian Fan hummed, smug as if he himself had been promoted.

    โ€œAccording to protocol, itโ€™ll be posted schoolโ€‘wide for a month. I already started a thread on the forum. Log in and leave a statement, be a role model.โ€

    Unfazed, Rong Shi opened the forum he hadnโ€™t checked in ages.


    Meanwhile, in the Second Corps mess hall, Lao Lin joked with Qing Song and Qiu Tianhao.

    โ€œโ€ฆWith all that merit, heโ€™ll be glowing back at the Academy.โ€

    โ€œWhy donโ€™t you just ask him yourself?โ€

    Lao Lin waved off. โ€œNah, the kidโ€™s busy with school. Plus, whenever I see him, I feel like pestering him for a son.โ€

    Qing Song choked on rice. โ€œโ€ฆโ€ Waitโ€”did he mean literally?

    Qiu gave a cough. โ€œCheck the Academy forum. Heโ€™s their top star; anything big is posted.โ€

    Smacking his thigh, Lao Lin logged in. His eyes bulged. โ€œWhat the hell is this crap?!?!โ€

    A top thread blared: #TellMeAJoke: A Freshman Claims He Can Pilot a Spaceship#.

    Over ten thousand comments.

    The main post, longwinded with pseudoโ€‘dissections of ability, concluded in big red font: โ€œProbability tends toward zero.โ€

    Comments laughed: โ€œFans embarrassed yet?โ€ โ€œArrogance exposed.โ€

    One even swore: โ€œIf he really can, Iโ€™ll run a hundred laps around campus!โ€

    Lao Lin raged: โ€œHe has an Aโ€‘Class license! Small warships are nothing!โ€

    โ€œExactly!โ€ Qing Song slammed chopsticks. โ€œDisciple, roast them!โ€

    Qiu sighed but dutifully switched to realโ€‘name. Replied:
    [Rong Shi has an Aโ€‘Class license. Flying a shuttle is no problem.]

    Within seconds, a thousand new replies:

    โ€œOMGโ€”upperclassman!!โ€
    โ€œOur two hubbies interacting again!!โ€
    โ€œAn Aโ€‘Class license?! God tier!โ€
    โ€œNow the haters are faceโ€‘slapped!โ€
    โ€œDo you even know how insane that test is? Nine out of ten fail at 90%.โ€
    โ€œAlright, runnersโ€”start your laps!โ€

    Not pacified, Lao Lin opened a new thread: #LittleRongIsAwesome(^โ–ฝ^)# and dumped warzone footageโ€”all featuring Rong Shi.

    Black fans dove in to spray himโ€”only to find themselves silenced by raw evidence.


    Back in the dorm, Zhao Wan fumed, marshaled troll armies, but just as his smear post went upโ€”Qian Fan himself made an official post, stamped in red.

    โ€œ3,200 merits. Direct promotion to Second Lieutenant. Special exception.โ€

    The forum exploded.

    โ€œHoly crap holy crap!!โ€
    โ€œDaddy Rongโ€™s a monster!!โ€
    โ€œHeโ€™s insaneโ€”in our cohort?! Iโ€™m so proud!!โ€
    โ€œIf spaceships shock youโ€”try special promotion!โ€

    As for Rong Shi, he only skimmed those threads without reaction. His attention lingered instead on the one berating Song Yu: listing his arrogance, his soโ€‘called lawless behavior in snatching staff.

    The ending words almost seemed fairโ€”but that didnโ€™t mean Rong Shi tolerated anyone criticizing his lover.

    โ€œGot a statement ready?โ€ Qian Fan pressed.

    Rong Shi typed calmly:

    [LittleCatEatsMyFish: Xiao Yu is cutest. No debate. Insult him, IP ban.]

    The three deans: โ€œโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€
    Not what we meantโ€ฆ

    The True Love Tower veterans: โ€œโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€
    This ageโ€ฆ do black fans always turn into stans??


    That night, Rong Shi lay in bed replaying Big Catโ€™s video for the fifteenth time.

    A faint click came from outside. He shut the display instantly, rolled inward, and closed his eyes.

    Soft steps. The mattress dipped. The quilt shifted. A warm body slid close.

    โ€œGege?โ€

    He stilled.

    โ€œChairman gege?โ€ the whisper teased.

    Rong Shi: โ€œโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€

    A low, delicious laugh tickled his ear.

    โ€œIf you donโ€™t wake, Iโ€™ll eat you aliveโ€”โ€

    Before the words finished, the world spunโ€”Song Yu found himself staring up at Rong Shiโ€™s face.

    Hands caging his neck, Song Yuโ€™s fingers slipped toward his glands, grinning. โ€œHook complete.โ€

    Rong Shi caught that hand, pressed it to his lips, and kissed it. Smiling softly: โ€œMm. Caught my Yu (Fish).โ€

    Seeing him damp hair and faint fatigue, Rong Shi stroked his head gently. โ€œโ€ฆNightmare again?โ€

    Song Yuโ€™s smile faltered. โ€œโ€ฆI came to nightโ€‘raid you, and weโ€™re talking about nightmares?โ€

    A clear dodgeโ€”but Rong Shi let it go.

    โ€œYes. And a night raid should do what night raids are for.โ€ His hand slid slowly down to Song Yuโ€™s abs.

    Song Yuโ€™s eyes lit up. Tonight, proactive?

    โ€ฆ

    Five minutes later, Song Yu sulked in the kitchen doorway, arms crossed.

    โ€œNight raid means me, not noodles!!โ€

    Pot boiling behind him, Rong Shi calmly asked, โ€œThick or thin noodles?โ€

    โ€œHumph!โ€

    โ€œThick then. You always eat an extra halfโ€‘bowl that way.โ€

    โ€œโ€ฆ.โ€ Damn it.

    From the fridge, Rong Shi pulled shrimp, scallops, and vegetables.

    โ€œWhat happened in the interrogation?โ€ he asked calmly.

    Song Yuโ€™s mood dropped; he summarized. โ€œI suspect superโ€‘omegasโ€™ modifications limit their partners. They canโ€™t freely choose.โ€

    โ€œDatabase analysis can confirm,โ€ Rong Shi nodded. โ€œNext plan?โ€

    โ€œMy networkโ€™s in place. Lin family comes next. If I canโ€™t uproot them, Iโ€™ll break half their backbone.โ€

    โ€œGood.โ€ Rong Shi cleaned shellfish and smiled lightly. โ€œJust donโ€™t go where I canโ€™t reach.โ€

    That soft coaxing disarmed him yet again. Song Yu bit back a retort, unwilling to admit how much it moved him.

    โ€œWant an egg? How runny?โ€

    โ€œโ€ฆโ€

    โ€œNever mind. Yolks just end up with me anyway,โ€ Rong Shi mused.

    โ€œโ€ฆ.โ€ Damn rabbit. His kryptonite.

    Song Yu finally wrapped arms around him from behind. โ€œTwo eggs.โ€

    A soft laugh. โ€œOkay.โ€

    Biting his ear, Song Yu added, โ€œAnd a sausage. Three cuts. Fry into a flower.โ€

    โ€œโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ Rong Shi.


    Authorโ€™s Note:

    Firstโ€”
    Song Cat: I want cuddles, not noodles!

    Laterโ€”
    Song Cat: โ€ฆMy hubbyโ€™s noodles taste so good. [slurp]

    Rong Bunny: Be good. As long as youโ€™re happy. [headpat]

    1 Comment

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    1. Depressedhedgehog
      Apr 21, '26 at 4:13 pm

      โ™กโ™กโ™กThanks for the Translation, Translator-san๐Ÿ’™๐Ÿฉต๐Ÿค!!! แ“šแ˜แ—ข โ™ก เซฎ๊’ฐ หถโ€ข เผ โ€ขหถ๊’ฑแƒโ™กโ™กโ™ก
      Easily coxed and willingly distracted cat

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