Nuo Wei buried himself into Chu Ci’s arms, like a small animal burrowing back into its nest, like an ostrich sticking its head into the sand. Chu Ci laughed and ruffled him. “So you’ve learned how to act spoiled now? Hmm?”
Chu Ci still remembered how he had been a few months ago, completely stubborn and unyielding, duller than a block of wood, moving only when given an order, one command for one action, without the slightest flexibility.
The “ostrich” clung to Chu Ci for quite a while, as if he had finally drawn enough energy from the male. Then he sat up properly on his knees, lowered his eyes, and softly called, “Male Lord.”
Chu Ci raised a brow. “Are you hiding something from me?”
Nuo Wei looked extremely guilty.
He gave a small “Mm,” shifted his gaze to Chu Ci’s right side, and began staring intently at the cup of flower tea. “I signed the informed consent form for the central lie detector.”
Chu Ci paused. “When?”
Without looking at him, Nuo Wei answered, “…Next week.”
Considering that Nuo Wei’s mental sea was on the verge of collapse, the investigation team had arranged his lie detector test last. However, as the last person to enter Admiral Erwen’s office, Nuo Wei’s testimony was the most important of all. Only his testimony could prove that the admiral’s defection had nothing to do with the other officers of the First Army.
If Nuo Wei underwent the test, Lin En and the others would finally be able to breathe a little easier.
Chu Ci remained silent for a long time.
Nuo Wei’s head lowered further and further. His hand clenched the carpet, gripping so hard it was as if he wanted to tear the fibers out by the roots.
Chu Ci hurriedly rescued his newly bought carpet from his female monarch’s hands. Letting out a light breath, he said casually, “Alright then. When are they arranging for you to return to the main star?”
Nuo Wei suddenly lifted his head, his cyan eyes filled with disbelief.
“You’re not angry?”
A female making such an important decision on his own without informing his Male Lord, and the male, as head of the household, not getting angry?
Chu Ci sighed. “I am angry. The female monarch I treasure at the very tip of my heart is going to suffer. Of course I’m angry. But this is your own matter. You have to make the decision yourself.”
Whether to step onto the interrogation stand early to save his companions, or wait until the end and recover from his injuries before going, such an important matter was not something Chu Ci had the right to decide for him.
He ruffled his female monarch’s bangs, pulling the foolish bug who was sitting stiffly as if waiting for judgment back into his arms. Then he said in a deliberately light tone,
“Anyway, just remember this. No matter what rank you fall to, B, C, D, or even F, it doesn’t matter. Whenever you come home, you can rush over like today and bury your head in my arms.”
Though he had not drunk any alcohol, Nuo Wei felt slightly drunk.
The male’s embrace was too safe. The faint scent of pheromones lingered around him, more intoxicating than the finest wine in the world.
He buried his face in Chu Ci’s neck and took a deep breath, like a cat inhaling catnip, so dazed he no longer knew where he was. Wrapping his arms around Chu Ci’s neck, he suddenly said, “Shall we do it…?”
Chu Ci nearly sprayed out his tea.
He coughed twice, covering his mouth as he spat out the tea he had choked on, staring at Nuo Wei with wide amber eyes in disbelief. He could hardly believe such shameless words had come from his usually calm and proper female monarch.
Chu Ci: “Cough… cough.”
He wiped the moisture from the corner of his lips before asking, “What did you say?”
Nuo Wei was rarely this bold and direct. His arms circled Chu Ci’s neck like a koala clinging to a tree. In a low but clear voice, he repeated, “Shall we do it?”
He missed Chu Ci too much.
His pheromones missed him. His skin missed him. His mental sea missed him. Every part of him missed him desperately, like a fish longing for water, like a bird longing for the sky.
The last time had not worked out either. Although Chu Ci had returned, the interruption had ruined the mood. He had only held him and comforted him. At that time, Nuo Wei had been overwhelmed with extreme joy and sorrow and had not noticed. But looking back now, after six months of abstinence, Chu Ci’s light touches had been like water poured into hot oil, like sparks falling into dry firewood. He simply could not endure it.
Today was even worse. The male sat lazily on the sofa, speaking calm words that were anything but calm. Nuo Wei felt as if his heart had been filled to the brim with something soft, so full it ached. He could not hold any more emotion inside. He only wanted to release it completely.
He missed Chu Ci too much.
Since Nuo Wei had said so, Chu Ci saw no reason to hold back. He was young and full of passion, not some model of restraint like Liu Xiahui1Liu Xiahui, also known as Zhan Huo, was a renowned thinker, statesman, and educator of the State of Lu during the Spring and Autumn period of ancient China. He is widely remembered for a story in which he allowed a cold woman to sit in his lap to keep her from freezing to death, yet he remained perfectly composed and did not engage in any indecent behavior.. So when it began, it began.
A new carpet had been laid on the floor, soft enough. They were not particular about the place, from the carpet to the beanbag sofa, to the folding table, to the bed. By the time they gradually slowed, dusk had already fallen.
Nuo Wei was rarely this direct and bold. His movements were also far more uninhibited than before, carrying a sense of no retreat, no end until one of us falls. He did not care how much weaker his body had become. In the end, it was Chu Ci who called a stop first.
The two of them squeezed onto the narrow single bed. Looking at his female monarch’s sweat-soaked bangs, Chu Ci reached out and poked his forehead. “You really know how to make trouble.”
Nuo Wei hugged his arm.
Nuo Wei was completely exhausted. Chu Ci was slightly better off. After his female monarch fell asleep clutching his arm, Chu Ci struggled to poke at his light-brain with one finger.
Ever since the expedition failed, nine out of ten trending topics on QuQi’s website had been related to the Pamir Star System. Lin En and the others’ trial videos had just gone down when Nuo Wei’s name was quickly pushed to the top.
⟦ Imperial Major General Volunteers to Undergo Central Lie Detector Test ⟧
This was an official announcement released by the investigation team. The attached image showed the huge and cold metal machine inside the central interrogation room, along with a photo of the consent form Nuo Wei had signed.
The consent form was densely packed with possible side effects of the lie detector test, from mild headaches to rank demotion, mental sea collapse, and even death. At the lower right corner was the bright red seal of the investigation team. Beneath the seal was Nuo Wei’s handwritten statement of consent.
『 I am fully aware of the potential dangers and side effects of the lie detector test, and I voluntarily agree to undergo testing in the central interrogation room in advance. Any accidents that occur during the interrogation process shall be borne by myself.
— Nuo Wei Leston. 』
His female monarch was cool and beautiful; even his handwriting was cool and beautiful, like silver hooks and iron strokes, the force pressing through the paper. Just by looking at those sharp, uneven ink marks, Chu Ci could tell how much strength Nuo Wei had used when signing.
He was carrying the honor of the entire First Army on his back.
Chu Ci scrolled down to the comments. The reactions across the Star Network were mixed. Some believed that if he was willing to go on the lie detector, there was no way he was faking it, and that Erwen’s defection must have had other hidden reasons. Others thought Nuo Wei was just being stubborn to the bitter end, like a dead duck with a hard beak, refusing to admit defeat until reaching the Yellow River2 Reaching the Yellow River often symbolized reaching a point of no return. Known as “China’s Sorrow,” its destructive, unpredictable floods and shifting course made it a terrifying force, where crossing it often meant facing death. . More people felt that regardless of the outcome, the failure of the expedition was an undeniable fact, and the First Army should pay the price.
No matter how noisy the discussions became, Nuo Wei knew nothing about it. He had no time to check his light-brain. As long as he was awake, he was almost always stuck to Chu Ci, trying out every method he had once been too shy to attempt.
On one hand, Chu Ci indulged him. On the other hand, he worried in secret. Nuo Wei’s behavior looked too much like someone heading to his death. It was as if he wanted to reclaim all the intimacy of the rest of his life within this single week.
When Chu Ci was within his line of sight, Nuo Wei’s mental sea remained stable and calm, as if nothing had ever happened. But once Chu Ci left his sight, in less than two hours his mental sea would begin to fluctuate, crack, and gradually turn into a mass of dead, dark silence, just like the state Chu Ci had first seen him in on that very first day.
A week passed quickly. On the morning of the seventh day, medical staff knocked on the ward door. Behind them stood members of the investigation team, signaling that it was time for Chu Ci and Nuo Wei to leave.
At this point, rather than calling him a Major General, it was more accurate to call Nuo Wei a prime suspect in a serious case. While he had been in the hospital, layers upon layers of military females had guarded the outside, and he had still been allowed a small ward to recover in peace. But when it came time to escort him back to the main star, the treatment was no longer so lenient.
Matthew fastened silver handcuffs onto him, then handed the lead rope to a lieutenant and pushed Nuo Wei forward. “Take the Major General to the starship.”
Chu Ci’s brows knitted tightly together.
According to the original plan, Chu Ci was supposed to return home via a civilian interstellar route. Although his status was noble, the investigation team was handling confidential matters, and forcing his way in would not be appropriate.
Wearing the handcuffs, Nuo Wei shook his head at Chu Ci.
Chu Ci suppressed the anger rising in his chest and followed the investigation team from a distance to the star system’s spaceport.
The moment he arrived at the docking area, the loud roar of voices stunned him.
The Pamir Star System was remote and distant, with very few original residents. Its docking field was usually deserted; not even a single aircraft would land in a day. But now it was packed so tightly that not even water could pass through. As soon as Chu Ci stepped inside, a harsh glare flashed across his vision.
He raised his hand to shield his eyes and realized it was a massive silver-white reflector panel.
There were plenty of reflector panels at the spaceport. Chu Ci roughly counted, no fewer than twenty. Taking a closer look, he saw nearby insects holding long lens and short cameras, various recording devices, and many wearing press badges on their chests, showing they came from different newspapers and media outlets.
Chu Ci frowned.
Once Nuo Wei landed on the main star, he would be taken straight to the holding room of the central interrogation room. The spacecraft would dock at the military-exclusive zone to block outside reporting. But Pamir Star had only one docking field, shared by civilians and military alike. These reporters, each using every trick in the book, had somehow gotten passes and traveled thousands of kilometers, all just to grab a front-page headline featuring the Empire’s Major General.
⟦ The Empire’s Former Star Falls Into the Mud: Rank Dropped, Facing Possible Imprisonment⟧
What a sensational, eye-catching headline.
Chu Ci watched coldly from behind. The moment Nuo Wei appeared, all attention turned to him. His beautiful, unique silver-white hair was like a target, instantly, every reflector panel aimed in his direction.
Most of the journalists present had connections, and after the expedition’s failure, the public was boiling with complaints. Nuo Wei became a perfect outlet for their frustrations. Matthew and the others did not stop them, tacitly allowing the microphones to be shoved toward Nuo Wei.
“Major General, what is your view on this rank drop?”
“Major General, from S down to B, historically rare for a female zerg to drop two levels in one go, could you share your feelings?”
“Major General, how do you view your uncle’s defection and the expedition’s failure?”
Nuo Wei’s hands were bound in handcuffs, unable to push them away. He looked at row after row of microphones, expressionless: “All conclusions will come naturally after I undergo the interrogation room’s lie detector. There is no need to ask prematurely.”
Besides traditional news reporters, many new media live streamers were also present. Cameras faithfully captured Nuo Wei’s expression, broadcasting it across the interstellar world.
When covered in honor, Nuo Wei’s detachment appeared mature and composed, indifferent to fame or gain. But now, trapped and powerless, that same detachment came off as arrogant and out of place.
The masses glued to the livestream weren’t there to watch Nuo Wei remain calm and aloof.
What they wanted to see was the former Major General crying his eyes out, kneeling in repentance, crushed into the dust.
The barrage of comments flew by.
⟬ Come on, what’s with the fake moral high ground? ⟭
⟬ Don’t tell me he thinks that stiff ‘Sima3This is a Chinese internet slang that came from idiom “Sima Zhao’s ambition is known to all”. The idiom originates from the Three Kingdoms-era politician Sima Zhao whose naked desire to usurp the Cao Wei throne was so obvious it was common knowledge. It refers to someone trying to hide true feelings but failing’ expression can pretend nothing happened. ⟭
⟬ I wonder if he can keep that calm face when he faces the lie detector later? Hehe. ⟭
The journalists watched the audience reactions carefully, making their questions sharper. Some asked why Erwen finally summoned Nuo Wei alone, whether there was a plot to overthrow the Empire, whether Nuo Wei had been raised with anti-Empire education since childhood, and finally, someone even shouted loudly: “Your colleague, Major General Lin En, and the others have already been punished. You’re hiding at the back like a scared turtle. Don’t you have anything to say?”
In front of Chu Ci, Nuo Wei was soft like a rabbit, these past few days he had even been made to cry several times, but in public, he remained cold and unyielding as ever. He stood straight, as if he were still the high-ranking Empire Major General, his pale cyan eyes emotionless, staring coldly at the reporters.
“I have never thought of avoiding punishment. If I have done wrong, the central interrogation room’s lie detector will make me pay a hundredfold.”
He looked around:
“As for Lin En and the other officers, whether we should be punished will only be determined once the dust has settled. The investigation team’s final report hasn’t been issued. Lin En and I are still holders of the Pentagram Medal, Empire’s Major Generals. We have not been dismissed nor stripped of our honors. Anyone who insults two active Imperial Major Generals should understand the consequences.”
Female zergs are the most respected group in the Empire; the law protects their honor. If Nuo Wei wanted, he could have sued all these reporters before even attending the trial.
The surroundings fell silent for a moment.
Imprisonment is no joke.
But this deterrent lasted only briefly. Moments later, cameras were shoved back in Nuo Wei’s face.
A petite female insect pushed through the crowd, fixed her gaze on Nuo Wei, and asked directly: “Major General, we’ve heard that due to your rank drop, the Male Zerg Protection Association has recommended a new female monarch for your male lord. Could you reveal how you intend to handle this?”
This is the absurdity of the zerg world: no matter how honored a female is, the standard of his success always hinges on the favor of a male. A female who achieves fame and fortune but lacks his affection, no matter how wealthy, will wither away early from the lack of comfort.
Nuo Wei’s expression shifted subtly for a moment.
It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Chu Ci. Over the past days, they had been wrapped up in sweet intimacy, getting lost in each other again and again, and through countless pheromone markings, he had already confirmed the male’s love.
Yes, in this cold and distorted world, they truly loved each other.
But that was clearly not something to say in front of reporters. A downgraded female boasting about her male’s favor would look, to the onlookers, a little like “putting on a brave face while embarrassed”. If Nuo Wei spoke, the StarNet crowd would probably mock him as a stubborn, proud loser again.
Seeing Nuo Wei remain silent, the short reporter’s expression grew slightly smug. He thought he had hit the female’s weak spot, and he shoved the microphone closer: “So, how does your male view this expedition failure? Does he think you have shamed him? Will he replace you with another female, or is he willing to cast you out?”
The man fired questions like a rapid cannon, pressing aggressively, giving the impression that he wouldn’t let Nuo Wei go without an answer.
Nuo Wei had no choice. He lifted his face, cast a subtle glance at Chu Ci, parted his lips as if to speak, but quickly pressed them shut again.
Chu Ci’s breath caught.
He rarely saw Nuo Wei like this, speechless yet embarrassed, embarrassed yet tinged with irritation. The irritation and speechlessness were aimed at the reporters; the embarrassment was for Chu Ci. Nuo Wei seemed desperate to declare, for the whole world to hear, how good his male was, but in public, he found it too difficult to say. There was a teasing, hesitant quality, like a soft little hook, drawing one in while holding back.
Chu Ci felt as if a little cat had just tugged at the hem of his clothes.
His heart tingled fiercely.
The reporters were relentless, shoving microphones almost into Nuo Wei’s mouth. Chu Ci could no longer restrain himself, he strode forward, pushing through the crowd.
He moved with long, purposeful steps, pushing aside the reporters in front of Nuo Wei, snatched the microphone with one hand, and his handsome face was projected in full HD on the live stream.
Chu Ci’s expression was half-smile, half-smirk, his amber eyes slightly narrowed, giving off a lazy yet mysterious aura: “You want to know what Nuo Wei’s male lord thinks about this matter?”
“Then why not come ask me directly?”
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