SZAR Chapter 39

⟦ Partner Allegedly Abusive. What’s Next for Stellar? ⟧

Chu Ci’s hand froze over the screen.

To be fair, he had a very good impression of Yi Xi. This business genius seemed to have suffered unspeakable trauma and hardship in childhood, leaving him with PTSD and a dependence on medication. Yet he hadn’t acted out in revenge. On the contrary, every meeting Chu Ci had with him showed Yi Xi as humble, polite, and composed, always knowing when to step forward and when to step back.

QuQi’s posts were a mix of truth and rumor. Some expressed sorrow and regret, others gawked with schadenfreude. The words were mixed together, creating a story that was confusing and uncertain. The only thing clear was that the male zerg involved with Yi Xi was also a young master of a wealthy family, named Chu Xiu. Though his family was smaller than Stellar, they were still one of the recognized families on the main star.

Chu Ci opened a search engine and typed the male zerg’s name. Instantly, hundreds of thousands of results appeared. He scrolled down, drawing in a sharp breath.

This Chu Xiu was no innocent.

He matured late, had not yet gone through the male zerg’s second maturity stage, and his rank was unclear, estimated between B and A. But even as an immature young male, he already had two full pages detailing abuse of female insects, his “glorious history,” widely known among females.

Chu Ci was speechless.

Although he was also a male zerg, there was truly nothing he could do to help Yi Xi. This Chu Xiu was of comparable rank to him, came from an even better family, and was the first victim of the car accident. He had legally assigned Yi Xi, and Chu Ci had no way to interfere.

He sighed and was about to put away his light brain when his wrist vibrated twice. It was a missed call. Chu Ci looked at the first four digits, [1269] and casually pressed hang up.

Strangely enough, the Male Zerg Protection Association had been calling him every day for the past two days. If Chu Ci weren’t a male zerg, he might have suspected he had committed a serious crime and was about to be arrested.

He was somewhat curious about what the Male Zerg Protection Association wanted to say, but he had promised Nuo Wei he wouldn’t answer. So he put the light brain away and got up to return to his workstation.

………………

On the second day after Stellar’s stock price plummeted, Chu Ci received an invitation to Yi Xi’s wedding.

The wedding had been arranged hastily and tightly, like herding ducks onto a stage¹. The banquet was set in the top-floor hall of the Stellar building, and Chu Ci attended as a partner of the company.

Secretary Lin greeted guests at the entrance and acknowledged Chu Ci from a distance. When Chu Ci approached and shook his hand, he lowered his voice and asked, “How is your boss doing?”

Secretary Lin gave a wry smile. “I haven’t seen him for several days.”

He sighed softly. “You know, female zergs have certain courses to attend before marriage. For someone like you, who grew up in a nursery without a female father arranging things, the female monarch would have to find a teacher herself. But for someone like… that young master Chu…”

Secretary Lin paused. Since Chu Xiu had become his boss’s Male Lord, he couldn’t call him by name. Yet using an honorific felt a little unwilling, so he let it slide.

“But for someone like Young Master Chu, from such a prestigious family, the female father would arrange a dedicated teacher. So the boss was picked up three days ago.”

Chu Ci hadn’t expected such an absurd rule. He gaped in shock, speechless for a long moment before finally finding his voice: “How… how do they teach?”

Secretary Lin hesitated, looking at him with a look that said words couldn’t explain it all.

Only then did Chu Ci remember Nuo Wei’s learning experience, and goosebumps broke out all over him. He waved his hand quickly, saying, “No need to explain. I get it, I get it.”

They exchanged a few more polite words as the guests arrived one by one. Chu Ci looked around, he didn’t recognize many people and asked, “Will your boss be here today?”

“He will.” Secretary Lin gave a bitter smile. “But they’re in the inner hall, reserved for Young master Chu’s family. The boss specifically arranged it so other guests are separated. You might not get to see him.”

Chu Ci froze. “The wedding has inner and outer halls?”

Since in this world he and Nuo Wei hadn’t held a wedding, he didn’t know the local customs. Separating the bride and groom from the invited guests, what kind of logic was that?

Secretary Lin’s smile turned even more wry. “It really shouldn’t be like this, but the boss… still wants to leave a bit of dignity.”

Chu Ci thought it over and understood.

It was not uncommon for male zergs to make things difficult for a newlywed female zerg at weddings, forcing kneeling, forcing drinking, or even going further with friends to play cruel tricks. Anything excessive could happen.

Yi Xi had been running Stellar for many years. The guests he invited were all wealthy and influential. They were prominent figures from various fields, accustomed to clinking glasses with Yi Xi at business events. If a male zerg wanted to cause trouble, keeping it behind closed doors at least made it look decent, a final shred of dignity preserved.

Chu Ci was silent. “But if a male zerg insists on opening the door, no one can stop him.”

Secretary Lin shook his head as well. “That’s exactly how it is.”

He looked at Chu Ci, his gaze unconsciously carrying a hint of earnestness. “But since you’re here… I wonder, if something really happens, could you go up and try to reason with him?”

After all, Chu Ci was a high-ranking male zerg. If other male zergs caused trouble for Yi Xi, he could at least speak up. He couldn’t stop another male izerg’s anger, but pretending to feel dizzy and saying something like, “Ah, I really don’t want to see blood, could you close the door?” That was still possible.

Chu Ci said, “But if I go to reason with him, and they close the door… Yi Xi will suffer even more.”

A male zerg who’s been venting his anger elsewhere will only take it out doubly on the female zerg.

Secretary Lin tugged at the corner of his mouth, helpless. “That’s also the boss’s wish. I think he’d rather endure more behind closed doors than be humiliated in public.”

Chu Ci didn’t ask Yi Xi when he realized he was a male insect. He just nodded. “I understand.”

He found a seat among the guests, just beside a small private room. Chu Ci ate a little, absentmindedly, while keeping an eye on the door to listen for any activity inside. But for the first half of the banquet, everything was quiet, no sounds of banging or shouting, and the door never opened.

After three rounds of drinking, Chu Ci felt dizzy. He glanced at the private room again, saw nothing unusual, and went to the restroom to wipe his face.

In his hurry to return to his seat, he walked quickly and nearly bumped into someone coming out of the inner area. Chu Ci stopped. “Sorry.”

The other person nodded politely, smiling. “Excuse me.”

They brushed past each other, and Chu Ci couldn’t help but glance back, staring at that figure for a moment.

Male zergs who smiled at strangers were rare; male zergs who, after colliding with someone, still said “Excuse me” were even rarer.

And this rare male zerg had a face equally uncommon. Most male zergs were coarse or stout, but he was tall and slender, his shirt and suit perfectly neat, the suit pants slightly short, revealing a thin, elegant ankle. His face was strikingly handsome, eyebrows arching sharply, looking like one of those indulgent young masters from 1990s Hong Kong dramas.

In the fleeting moment Chu Ci missed, the corners of his lips curved into a subtle, almost-hidden smile. His almond-shaped eyes glimmered with charm, like someone born to be a heartbreaker. When he looked at you, it created the illusion of being deeply loved.

This male zerg in the restroom was at least thirty percent more handsome than any celebrity Chu Ci had seen in his previous life.

Strangely, though, Chu Ci felt this beautiful insect looked familiar.

He seemed to have seen him somewhere before, but he couldn’t recall where. Chu Ci wasn’t very social, hardly knew any male zergs, and certainly had never met one this attractive.

He tapped his head and thought, “I’m probably imagining things.”

The banquet, surprisingly, passed in peace. The rumored proud and violent male zerg caused no trouble at all, staying obediently inside to eat.

When the banquet ended, Chu Ci got up and slipped out to the rooftop to get some air. Yi Xi’s Stellar building was incredibly tall. The rooftop doubled as a parking area for flying vehicles. Besides the usual civilian aircrafts, a huge asphalt runway stretched across it. A starship was just loading cargo, gems mined from distant star systems.

Yi Xi ran a gem business, and these starships were made from special vibranium, able to transport cargo between star systems.

Chu Ci sat on the edge of the rooftop, watching the aircrafts take off and land, thinking of Nuo Wei, far away on the horizon.

The barren star had no signal towers. Nuo Wei was often offline, and Chu Ci could only talk to him briefly each night when he returned to the warship.

Every night before bed, his female lord would send him his location. Chu Ci watched his coordinates inch forward day by day, from one distant star system to an even more remote one, until he became just a tiny dot on the map, undetectable.

News of the expedition appeared daily at the top of the StarNet. Erwen led the troops with unstoppable momentum, and the online comments were full of joy and excitement. In many places, giant portraits of the admiral were displayed. Even under Chu Ci’s office building, there was one: The Admiral held a fine iron stabbing sword, his silver-gray hair neatly tied at the back of his head, golden medals gleaming in the light.

Nuo Wei also sent messages, saying that maybe it wouldn’t take six months, he could return sooner.

Chu Ci sent him pictures of the new buds of the Begonia. Nuo Wei praised how well he was growing them, and then, when saying goodnight, suddenly asked, 【 You didn’t answer the Male Zerg Protection Association’s call, right? 】

Chu Ci was about to tease him by saying he did, but the cursor on Nuo Wei’s side flickered and the message was retracted.

Nuo Wei still didn’t dare speak to Chu Ci in such a casual tone.

Chu Ci replied irritably, 【 I saw it. Retract what? Retract why? 】

The status showed “typing…” and the cursor jumped repeatedly. Chu Ci wanted to see what he would type, but the typing icon paused for a very long time before a message finally appeared.

With his eyes closed, Chu Ci could easily imagine Nuo Wei biting his lip, pressing his palms together in embarrassment. He sighed silently and snapped, 【 I didn’t answer! I said I wouldn’t, so I didn’t! 】

【 Mm… 】 Nuo Wei added cautiously, 【 I’m not trying to interfere with you, but at least… please wait for me to come back. 】

Chu Ci was puzzled by Nuo Wei’s message. He really couldn’t imagine what the Male Zerg Protection Association could be causing this time.

The days flowed by like water. In the blink of an eye, the Begonias bloomed for the second time. As usual, Chu Ci took photos to send to Nuo Wei, but when he opened his messages, he froze without realizing it.

Nuo Wei had sent him a short message in the early hours of the previous day, just few words:

⟦ If the Male Zerg Protection Association calls you again today, please answer.⟧

Chu Ci’s brow twitched.

He jumped onto his flying vehicle and called Nuo Wei, but it showed “busy line, no answer.” When he unconsciously hovered in front of his office building, his hand tightened around the lightpad.

The giant poster of Admiral Erwen had been torn somehow. A sharp object had slashed a vertical line across his jaw on the poster, making it look split in two, fluttering apart in the early spring wind.