SZAR Chapter 62

Secretary Lin was stunned for a long moment before he said, “What does this mean?”

The male zerg had left them waiting here for so many hours, clearly very dissatisfied. And now he had just elevated Yi Xi to Female Monarch…What was going on?

They hadn’t even met in person.

“Boss?” Secretary Lin looked at Yi Xi in accusation. “Did you make some private deal with the Chu family’s young master?”

All this time of worrying for nothing!

A Female Monarch and a Female Attendant were definitely not the same thing. The most basic point: a Female Monarch could not be casually replaced. If Yi Xi didn’t make mistakes after marriage, the male zerg had no way to remove him.

Yi Xi shook his head.

He hadn’t had any contact with the Chu family’s young master.

Secretary Lin visibly lit up, pacing back and forth in the room. “Oh my god, boss! Does this mean you can still manage Stellar? We don’t have to hand everything over? Should we make an announcement? Our company’s stock has crashed the past two days!”

The senior executives of Stellar all got shares, and Secretary Lin held quite a lot himself. The recent plummet had cost him dearly.

Yi Xi let out a faint sigh, looking exhausted, and stood from the sofa. “No rush. Maybe it was sent by mistake. Whether it’s a blessing or a curse is not yet clear. Let’s deal with these matters after the wedding dust has settled.”

Secretary Lin nodded. “Okay.”

Yi Xi looked back at the document. At the very bottom, the male zerg had marked the wedding date, just seven days away. Time was extremely tight.

Male zergs were usually completely hands-off managers. Yi Xi would need full responsibility for the wedding. And the etiquette for a Female Attendant and a Female Monarch was very different. Seven days of preparation was indeed extremely tight.

Moreover, there were three days of pre-marital guidance.

This system was a bit like the ancient practice of a young lady being assigned a matron before marriage. Female zergs were arranged to receive instruction before their wedding. In a noble family like the Chu’s, there were usually staff specifically responsible for such matters. Yi Xi pressed a hand to his forehead, weary. “I hope it’s not too harsh.”

His physiology was unusual. His self-healing ability was weak, he wasn’t skilled at pleasing others, and he had never learned the specific rules of guidance. If the Chu family deliberately made things difficult, it would be very painful for him.

Secretary Lin remembered this too. He paused for a moment and said, “Uh… if it’s a Female Monarch instead, maybe it will be a little better?”

Maybe a little better…but only a little better.

For ordinary female zergs, even these three days would be difficult to endure, let alone for Yi Xi, who had never been forced to bow or submit before.

Secretary Lin added hesitantly, “Maybe… uh… that young master of the Chu family will help you? After all, he’s never met you, yet he made you a Female Monarch. He should… like you, right?”

Yi Xi was silent.

He didn’t understand the male zerg’s intentions. He also didn’t know what about himself, besides his wealth, might matter to the male zerg. Twenty years ago, perhaps the male zerg’s feelings could have been genuine, but now there was almost a twenty-year gap. The Chu family’s young master clearly preferred fresh, youthful boys, and Yi Xi was long past the age that male zergs favored.

All he could say was, “We’ll take it one step at a time.”

More than half an hour later, it seemed the male zerg was not coming. Secretary Lin piloted the vehicle to take the boss home. Thinking about the Female Monarch matter, he drove the vehicle unsteadily, repeatedly confirming with Yi Xi.

“One hour has passed…there’s no recall from the Male Zerg Protection Association, right?”

Yi Xi: “No.”

“Two hours have passed…still no recall?”

Yi Xi: “Mm.”

“No new messages?”

Yi Xi pressed a hand to his forehead. “Mm.”

Secretary Lin felt his tense heart finally settle back into place. “Wonderful. Then there shouldn’t be any more unexpected changes.”

If such an important email had been sent by mistake, and two hours had passed without correction, it would have been a major blunder for the Male Zerg Protection Association…basically impossible.

That meant Yi Xi was indisputably the Female Monarch.

After days of walking on eggshells with his boss, Secretary Lin finally breathed a sigh of relief. This had to be the best news since the car accident. His face lit up with joy, and he looked extremely excited.

Even more excited than his boss.

Secretary Lin looked back through the interior mirror. Yi Xi sat in the back seat, his expression calm as always, showing no hint of joy. His light-brain glowed, reflecting a cold white-blue light off his gold-rimmed glasses.

Yi Xi’s eyes were fixed straight on the light-brain, but Secretary Lin noticed that his fingers hadn’t moved…no editing, no scrolling…he seemed to be staring at a single interface, lost in thought.

Yi Xi was looking at his chat history with Cointreau.

The boy’s avatar was still the same photo, holding a sunflower and smiling, with the orange-red sunset in the background and chestnut-colored short hair…soft and clean. His messages matched that image: polite, measured, and considerate. Several times he noticed Yi Xi didn’t want to continue the conversation, and he didn’t push. Obedient and thoughtful, he didn’t behave like a male zerg at all.

Yi Xi thought: This is a treasure covered in dust.

His rank might not be high, but for a male zerg, gentleness and courtesy were priceless qualities. And the boy was handsome on top of that. Yi Xi could easily imagine how fiercely the other female zergs of the empire would pursue him if they discovered Cointreau.

Businessman like him, military officers, and young achievers in high positions, all might invite Cointreau and willingly become his Female Monarch.

But Yi Xi could not. He was about to marry.

Cointreau was still very young, having never met so many outstanding people, which was why he clung to Yi Xi. But Yi Xi couldn’t deceive himself, he could not claim this dusty treasure for himself.

Secretary Lin noticed Yi Xi lingering on the chat interface and leaned in. “Boss, are you going to send your friend a wedding invitation?”

Yi Xi shook his head. “No.”

Secretary Lin frowned. “Is it someone you have a grudge with, a friend you can’t invite?”

Otherwise, why linger on the chat interface for so long?

Yi Xi smiled faintly.

There was no grudge, yet it was harder to speak of than any grudge. They had shared a bed and done things that absolutely should not have been done between a betrothed female zerg and a young male zerg.

“It’s nothing,” Yi Xi said. “Just focus on driving.”

Secretary Lin responded with a quiet “oh,” and returned his gaze to the road. From behind came the faint sound of input from the light-brain.

Yi Xi typed and deleted repeatedly, back and forth, until finally he transferred some money to Cointreau and typed: 【Hi Cointreau, I’m very sorry, but for personal reasons, perhaps we shouldn’t contact each other anymore.】

If the Chu family ever discovered this relationship, the consequences would be unimaginable. Cointreau, though a male zerg, was low-ranking, young, and had no one to protect him. If an old noble family like the Chu’s came calling, he might not be able to handle it.

Yi Xi lingered on the chat interface for a long while after that, sighed lightly, and then deleted him as a friend.

Afterward, he closed the light-brain, took it off his wrist, and set it aside in the aircraft.

He was afraid to think about Cointreau’s reaction.

………………

Elsewhere, the moment Chu Xiu stepped out of the Chu family mansion, he released the suppression ring from Carey.

The breathing restriction around his neck snapped free instantly. Carey touched his neck in disbelief, still unable to shake the sensation of total unfamiliarity.

Chu Xiu handed him the emerald gemstone ring. “Smash it.”

Together with the remains of the collar, it was as if they were destroying that shameful chapter of the past.

Carey held the ring, his hands trembling slightly. After a moment, he raised one arm to cover his eyes. His lips quivered, but he didn’t speak a word. A streak of tears ran down his cheek.

Chu Xiu turned his face away.

Carey was a proud person. Back at the rental house, he had refused to let Yi Xi see him in an embarrassed or helpless state. Now, he likewise did not want Chu Xiu to see him like this.

It took him two minutes to collect himself. When he appeared before Chu Xiu again, aside from slightly red eyes, there was no trace of emotion.

Chu Xiu waited for him in the aircraft and gave a slight nod. “Let’s go to the central district. I’ve contacted a rental agent.”

After leaving the Chu family, Chu Xiu’s current options for living were limited to his hospital bed and the cramped rental apartment. The rental was too small, enough for two people, barely enough for three. He had no intention of letting Yi Xi get married in such a place; first, he would rent a better house.

The aircraft slowly lifted off. The Chu family’s estate lived up to its reputation as an old noble family of the Imperial Star. The manor had the feel of a secluded medieval castle, built on an artificial island in the center of a lake. The lake was called Emerald Lake, surrounded by mountains.

In the interstellar age, greenery was extremely precious. Only an old, established family like the Chu’s could enjoy a private island amidst green mountains and waters.

When the aircraft climbed high enough, the castle had shrunk to a tiny speck in the view, leaving only the dark green lake below. Carey suddenly pulled the control lever, hovering directly above it.

Then he opened the window, stretched out his arm, and threw the emerald gemstone ring into the equally emerald water.

Chu Xiu looked away.

It was said that in earlier times, manor lords and gentry would bind rebellious servants to stones and throw them into lakes around the estate. This lake surely contained the bodies of many innocent people.

Emerald Lake, the emerald gemstone ring, and the Chu family were all the same…gold and jade on the outside, decay and rot within. Beneath the glossy surface, everything was rotten and festering.

He would not let Yi Xi have even a shred of connection to this kind of family.

The new residence Chu Xiu had chosen was next to the commercial district in the central city, not far from the Stellar company building. From the rooftop of the building, he could even see the little garden on the property.

The villa was not large, only three floors. The previous owner had decorated it with a warm, tasteful style. Chu Xiu added some wooden furniture and hired staff to arrange the soft furnishings, and it was ready to move in.

The villa was located at the very center of the main planet, and the rent was high. Chu Xiu first tried to pay with the Chu family’s card, but, as expected, it was frozen. He switched to his account balance. Yi Xi had transferred him two million previously, which wasn’t enough to fully cover the hospital fees. Fortunately, the empire was generally lenient toward male zergs, extending the final payment date, so Chu Xiu was not overly strained.

His Male Father had sent countless messages, dinging endlessly. Chu Xiu ignored them and muted the app. Only now, when he needed to use the payment settings, did he have to open it.

The moment he opened it, he stopped.

The account balance was wrong.

After deducting necessary expenses and medical fees, Chu Xiu should have had around 180 left, but now it was more than double that.

The agent asked, “Sir?”

“Oh, it’s nothing,” Chu Xiu replied, clicking to pay. Then he left Carey to discuss utilities and other matters, stepping aside to try sending a message to Yi Xi.

Only a red exclamation mark appeared.

Chu Xiu: “?”

The account had inexplicably received a large sum of money, and then Yi Xi deleted him?

No…Yi Xi had deleted Cointreau.

Chu Xiu’s finger hovered over the light-brain. He felt a twinge of guilt. Yi Xi must have been worried.

He tried to re-add him, but the system showed the addition had failed.

Blocked with a single click. No wonder the StarNet said the Stellar Group looked gentle but acted decisively on major matters, they truly left no room for maneuver.

Chu Xiu tried to register a new account, but the network required real-name binding, making it a bit troublesome. Just as he was fiddling with it, a ringtone suddenly sounded.

Chu Xiu tapped it. It was the Male Zerg Protection Association.

This organization was relentless, no matter where you went, their presence could be felt. He clicked to answer, and a careful male voice came through.

“Are you Chu Xiu?”

“It’s me,” Chu Xiu replied.

“Your father is in the hospital. Can you come over?”

The cheap old man had indulged in pleasure every day and taken some dubious ‘perfect tonics.’ His body had long been worn down. When Chu Xiu got angry, his blood pressure, cholesterol, and sugar all spiked at once, causing serious problems.

Chu Xiu said with a trace of amusement, “I’m not a doctor; going wouldn’t help. As for accompanying him, I don’t recall any precedent of a male zerg being allowed to accompany another male zerg in the hospital, right?”

Chu Dian had so many attendants that, even if bedside care were needed, it certainly wouldn’t fall to the Chu family’s noble young male zerg.

There was a pause on the other end. “It’s like this, sir: your father claims that because of you, he got angry and ended up hospitalized. If you don’t accept mediation, he will file a lawsuit against you, alleging that your verbal attack caused him harm.”

The Male Zerg Protection Association not only handled disputes between male and female zergs but also mediated conflicts between male zergs. Chu Dian had suffered Chu Xiu’s verbal attack and ended up vomiting blood in the hospital. Requesting the accused to appear for confrontation was reasonable.

Chu Xiu raised an eyebrow. “Thank you for informing me, but I refuse. Let him sue.”

The Chu family was by no means a purely upright family. Chu Xiu never hesitated to judge them by the worst possible intentions. If he agreed to return, Chu Dian had a thousand ways to ensure he could never leave again. By contrast, a public ruling in court was safer.

In civilized society, Chu Dian would never dare to kidnap a male zerg in broad daylight.

There was a two-second pause on the line.

The staff member reminded him, “Sir, I must explain: Chu Dian’s hospital diagnosis is severe, almost a heart attack, and he’s on a respirator. There may even be a life-threatening risk.”

He paused, and seeing Chu Xiu unmoved, added, “Also, Chu Dian is B-rank, far higher than you. In a court confrontation, if he insists on accusing you of verbal assault and neither side can provide evidence, the ruling will likely favor Chu Dian.”

Among zerg males, rank determines authority. When both parties are male zergs, the higher-ranking one holds sway. If Chu Dian’s father stubbornly pursued it in court, Chu Xiu would indeed face some trouble.

Chu Xiu frowned.

This was indeed a miscalculation. He hadn’t expected Chu Dian to actually have a heart attack. This version of his cheap old man was weak beyond imagination.

He rubbed his temples. “Thank you. I still refuse mediation.”

The staff member was somewhat surprised. He had made countless calls before, hearing male zergs roar with rage, scream, or scold with displeasure. Few were as calm as Chu Xiu; even fewer thanked him in return. He couldn’t help but add, “Very well, Sir. Later tonight, we may need you to come to the court to sign some papers. We’ll pick you up in the evening.”

Chu Xiu said, “Alright.”

He hung up and opened the chat history of his cheap old man.

The Chu family was already a waning force, barely maintaining appearances. They had finally caught a fat sheep in Yi Xi, but it slipped through their fingers like a duck flying away. Unsurprisingly, Chu Dian flew into a rage, sending Chu Xiu dozens of messages. Chu Xiu started reading from the top:

【 You think you’ve grown wings? 】

【 I’ve frozen your card. 】

After these two, there was a long pause. Chu Dian probably thought that by controlling the card, he could manipulate Chu Xiu, just waiting for him to come back wagging his tail in submission. But half an hour later, the messages surged again, probably because he realized he hadn’t gotten a handle on Chu Xiu, and now he was panicking.

The later messages grew even uglier.

First: 【 You worthless mutt, just like your useless female father. 】

Then: 【 You’d better come back quietly, or you’ll see what happen.】

And then: 【Your brother and I are both B-rank. You’d better think carefully about the consequences in court.】

【 Yes, yes, yes 】 Chu Xiu replied, 【 You’re both B-rank. 】

Then he blocked the number with a single click and muttered, “Bad luck.”

The apartment arrangements had already been settled, and the agent had left. Carey was cleaning. He vaguely heard the conversation inside and lingered at the door, worry written on his face.

Chu Xiu reassured him, “Female Father, it’s nothing. Not an important matter.”

He stepped forward to take the broom from Carey’s hands. “Female Father, you don’t need to handle this. I bought a household robot, it should arrive today. Female Father…?”

Carey’s eyes widened. The moment Chu Xiu reached for the broom, he hugged it tightly and stepped back two paces, acting as if Chu Xiu were some monstrous flood. He barked sharply: “Xiao Xiu, stay by the window! Don’t come inside!”

Chu Xiu looked at him in confusion.

“The smell on you! Oh my god, it’s so strong.” Carey covered his mouth and nose. “Stronger than your father’s, by countless times. Didn’t you notice?”

The air was thick with the scent of alcohol and orange blossom, sweet, bitter, and sharp, spreading intensely.

Chu Xiu asked, “What?”

Male Zergs aren’t so sensitive to their own scent.

Carey kept backing up until he reached another window, then finally relaxed. He turned his face to the outside and took in deep breaths of fresh air. “Your pheromones… oh god, you must be starting your second awakening. Call the Male Zerg Protection Association immediately and have them bring an isolation pod.”

During awakening, a male zerg cannot control the pheromones on their body. They must be confined in a isolation pod before other medical personnel can safely approach.

Chu Xiu lacked the usual zerg knowledge, but from Carey’s expression, he could tell how serious this was. He opened his light-brain, found the number he had just hung up, and called back.

The moment it rang, someone picked up. Chu Xiu identified himself: “This is Chu Xiu.”

“It’s you, Sir.” The same operator from before. Hearing Chu Xiu’s name, he seemed to relax slightly. “Sir, you’ve finally made up your mind. Are you ready to accept mediation? Listen to me, going to court won’t benefit you, the other side’s rank is too high, you’ll be at a disadvantage…”

“No.” Chu Xiu cut him off. “Can you bring an isolation pod?”

“It seems like I’m starting my second awakening.”