SZAR Chapter 70

“…”

The head-rubbing gesture, seen through the glass curtain wall, was clearly witnessed by all the shareholders present. At the same time, the same thought popped into their minds:

“Has their president gone crazy?”

That was a male zerg! A genuine male zerg! To casually place a hand on the head of such a noble male Zerg and rub it like that… had Yi Xi grown tired of living?

The viewers on StarNet also saw the movement through the silhouettes on the window. Their expressions were strange, far stranger than those of the shareholders.

When a female monarch touched a female attendant’s head like that, it looked like an older brother affectionately patting his beloved younger brother. The two seemed happy together, creating a peaceful and harmonious scene.

What the hell was this?

Was this some kind of story where, under the brutal oppression of a male zerg, the sisters supported each other, relying on one another to get through hardship together?

Momo sent a smoking emoji.【Damn… this is kind of a good ship.】

His fingers trembled as he typed on the keyboard:

【 Think about it —

The older brother is calm and steady, full of the gentleness and wisdom that come from years of experience. But his health is poor, so he needs care.

The younger brother is youthful and energetic, with a slim waist and long legs. His thoughts jump around, but he still depends on his brother.

When the male lord delivers punishment, the older brother wants to protect him and volunteers to take it instead. But the younger brother worries about his brother’s health and refuses even if it means death. Relying on his youthful spirit, he stubbornly endures the punishment himself.

Afterward he’s locked in a dark little room to reflect on his mistakes. Late at night, when everything is quiet, the older brother secretly brings medicine to him.

The younger brother doesn’t want his brother to see his wounds and refuses to expose his body no matter what. But the older brother forcefully tears away his disguise.

When the older brother’s soft fingers trembled as he applied the ointment to the wound, the younger brother finally couldn’t hold on any longer, he threw himself into his brother’s arms and cried his eyes out. The older brother’s heart ached, but there was nothing he could do; he could only hold him while soothing him: “Sleep… sleep now, it won’t hurt when you’re asleep…】

【 What kind of twin lotus blooms from the sea of suffering¹ is this…】

This wildly off-topic imagining sparked a flurry of reactions online. Everyone agreed it was adorably ship-worthy and commented,【I’ll give 50 points. Write another thousand or so words!】

But their daydream was mercilessly shattered in the next moment.

Yi Xi lifted the food container and smelled the bitter aroma of the herbs. The clear soup gleamed in his eyes, and he spoke with a hint of helplessness: “You don’t need to do this.”

How could a female zerg work at the company while the male zerg cooks soup at home and brings it over?

“But I want to give it,” Chu Xiu said.

In his past life, his cooking skills had been excellent. When he had free time, he would experiment with complicated, intricate dishes. Unfortunately, he was always alone, if he made too much, he couldn’t eat it all. As a bartender, strict rules about body shape forbade him from eating food high in sugar or fat.

He would often cook a lavish spread with enthusiasm, take a small taste, and then freeze the rest in the fridge. Eventually, when the leftovers were close to spoiling, he’d throw it all away.

He had even tried making dishes for his father. His father would finish them with a face full of forced smiles, praise Chu Xiu’s skill, and then, with a wrinkled, orange-peel-like face, ask about the next time he would repay his debts.

After that, his enthusiasm vanished completely.

Chu Xiu desperately wanted someone who would both make him want to cook and be willing to eat what he made.

Yi Xi smiled again, but there was not pure joy in his eyes, there was a touch of helplessness.

He really hadn’t expected the male zerg to come and deliver food; this was completely not a task the male zerg was supposed to do.

Before marriage, Yi Xi only thought about surviving. But in just two short days, Chu Xiu had given him so much, more than he was prepared for.

Cointreau’s feelings were pure and intense, his love bursting out from his eyes, his brows, even the strands of his hair. The intensity of this affection left Yi Xi unusually flustered, unsure of how to handle it.

He was older, his body frail like rotting wood and troubled by his pheromone issues, while the male was in his prime, so handsome, so polite, he should have had more young and high-quality options.

Yi Xi didn’t understand why the male was so devoted to him, nor how long this feeling would last. In fact, he personally thought the male’s affection resembled a fledgling complex, like a young bird clinging to its parent.

He had looked into Chu Xiu’s family background: the female father had died early, and there was an older brother of higher rank who had claimed all the male father’s attention.

Chu Xiu had been practically invisible in the family. The females feared his status and avoided him, and the males ignored him, which is why Chu Xiu styled his hair so outrageously, trying to catch the elders’ attention.

Children raised in such households often have psychological scars. When Yi Xi first met him at the bar, his gentle and tolerant attitude may have given Chu Xiu a sense of fatherly comfort, which inexplicably made the young male cling to him.

But this attachment was like floating duckweed on the water, a fleeting and illusory mirage. As the child grew, his obsession with a father figure would naturally fade.

Perhaps by then, Cointreau would no longer rely on him so completely.

Yi Xi didn’t confront it; he let things unfold naturally. If the child eventually grew up and pursued new feelings with a more mature mindset, he would still offer his blessings.

After all, for a female, having such a deep attachment even once in a lifetime makes life generous and gentle enough.

Chu Xiu, still fussing and flailing: “I like making it for you. Why not?”

Yi Xi smiled, shaking his head like a patriarch tolerating a child’s mischief. “It’s not that you can’t, but cooking should be my job. You’re a male.”

Males weren’t supposed to be doing these things.

A flurry of question marks appeared in the live comments.

【???】

What the heck? Where did this male come from?

Weren’t the females supposed to be supporting each other, struggling to survive under the male’s harsh oppression? Where did this male come from?

Momo was the first to react, unable to contain himself, and blurted out: 【 Holy crap, the streamer is a male? Could it really be Lord Chu Xiu? 】

Chu Xiu never intended to hide his identity. The whole point of this account was to show that Yi Xi was extremely well cared for and had no danger to his life, so that those scatterbrained gamblers might think twice.

Even before he started streaming, he had already submitted a report to the Security Bureau. If that gambler hesitated or gave up betting because of the live broadcast, the underground betting market would be completely shut down by the time he tried to join again.

Chu Xiu had just arrived and couldn’t do much, but within his power, he still wanted to help that poor little female a bit.

The male had gone out of his way to bring food, so of course Yi Xi couldn’t ignore him. He hurried into the conference room, officially ended the meeting, and then brought Chu Xiu into his office.

Yi Xi walked ahead, Chu Xiu followed behind, and taking advantage of Yi Xi not noticing, he brazenly sized up his female monarch.

It was completely different from the wedding day.

Yi Xi’s personal aura was overwhelming. At the wedding, he had deliberately toned it down, and the stylist had chosen a soft, gentle outfit, a pure white suit that accentuated his waistline to highlight his tender, virtuous side. But today, he was wearing a business-style silver-gray suit, cold and austere in tone. Chu Xiu, trailing behind, couldn’t help but be reminded of mixing drinks in his past life.

His colleagues, the high-powered business tycoons who vied to seduce him. Were they all like this Yi Xi? And now, with Chu Xiu obediently following behind carrying food, didn’t he look like one of those pampered little canaries?

He set the camera on the table so the wide-angle could capture a bit of him and Yi Xi, proving that he was indeed on screen. Then he politely set out the soup and porridge from the boxes, looking exactly like a little canary laying out dishes for its benefactor.

Yi Xi shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

He noticed the camera on the table, but didn’t understand why the male wanted to record this scene.

Yi Xi, sitting there letting the male arrange the dishes, was committing a serious breach of etiquette. Right now it was fine because the male loved him, but if it were like the old story of Mizi Xia splitting a peach², one day this could have been enough to land him in the correctional facility.

Chu Xiu didn’t know any of that. His mind was full of how little canaries in his past life cared for their benefactors. He pushed the bowls and spoons toward Yi Xi, eyes sparkling: “Try it.”

Yi Xi hesitated for a moment. The uncertainty of what lay ahead couldn’t outweigh the joy in the male’s expression. Finally, he picked up the spoon and tasted a sip.

【 Help me. 】 The live comments scrolled by rapidly: 【 I kind of feel sorry for Yi Xi. 】

You don’t even know what kind of dark culinary experiments your male just made!

【 No, even if it’s awful, I’m still jealous! A male cooking for you, you have to drink it no matter how it tastes! 】

They debated as Yi Xi lifted the spoon to his lips.

He gave Chu Xiu a look of affirmation, eyes soft with a small smile: “It’s very good.”

The bitter notes of lotus seeds and codonopsis root blended perfectly with the sweetness of the red dates, and paired with the richness and freshness of the bone broth, the flavor was light yet layered. The warm soup slid down his throat, gently soothing even his spasming stomach.

Chu Xiu pushed the porridge over as well: “Then eat more.”

The little bartender was a master at reading expressions. He could tell immediately if Yi Xi was genuinely comfortable.

A wave of 【……】 scrolled by.

【 Still, Yi Xi’s acting is incredible. I almost believed it really tasted good. 】

【 And there’s a whole big pot to drink! The president is suffering. 】

【I’ve studied a bit of micro-expression psychology, and I feel Yi Xi isn’t faking it. His muscle movements are too natural. Anyone want to try making this recipe? Maybe it’ll actually taste good. 】

This lone comment defending Chu Xiu vanished into the sea of live comments.

Then all the comments stopped, because the male leaned in.

Chu Xiu’s enlarged handsome face filled the screen. The wide-angle distortion didn’t diminish his beauty at all: the high nose bridge, perfectly shaped brows, and sharply defined jawline created a face so striking, so aggressive, that it was unforgettable at a single glance.

【 Ahhh, the male is leaning over. Does he want to talk to us? 】

The crowd went wild.

Chu Xiu pressed the power button, and with a sharp click, the camera shut off.

【 ??? 】

The screen went completely black.

The onlookers, crouching in front of their screens, frantically refreshed, finally accepting the harsh truth: it wasn’t their internet cutting out, the streamer had ended the broadcast.

【 Help! 】Momo ground their teeth in frustration. 【 Damn it, to end the stream at a moment like this! 】

Chu Xiu shut it off cleanly and decisively, leaving no room for hesitation. He only needed to hint at the harmony between him and Yi Xi, enough to make the point. By his estimate, within two hours, StarNet would show a completely different public opinion, and Stellar’s stock would start climbing against the trend.

The next part, however, was not for public eyes.

Chu Xiu was about to do something a proper little canary would do.

After taking so much from the benefactor, he’d only made one gesture, cooked a meal once, and the benefactor had reciprocated. Not following through would violate the professional ethics of a top-tier kept man.

Yi Xi had finished the soup. His stomach still twitched with discomfort, but it was far better than before.

Now he felt a little sleepy. The office had a chaise lounge meant for rest, but it could only fit one person. If the male also needed to rest, Yi Xi would offer the couch to him.

He lifted his head and asked, “Cointreau, do you have any plans this afternoon?”

If this were an elder speaking to a junior, or an older brother to a younger one, it would be just a normal question. From Chu Xiu’s perspective, that of a canary to a benefactor, it was obviously an invitation.

Especially now, with Yi Xi seated in the boss chair, exuding elite, austere charm, Chu Xiu wanted to indulge in a little roleplay.

When the benefactor invites, how can the canary refuse?

He strode over, stood in front of Yi Xi, then bent his knees and straddled his lap.

Yi Xi’s brows shot up sharply.

He froze, unsure whether to wrap his hands around Chu Xiu’s waist, holding him felt wrong, not holding him felt wrong too.

“President…” Chu Xiu lowered his voice, making his naturally enticing tone even more intimate. He placed one hand over Yi Xi’s sore lower abdomen, gently massaging in a clockwise motion. The warmth of his palm passed through the shirt, easing the bloated ache perfectly.

Leaning close to Yi Xi’s ear, a faint smile playing on his lips, he whispered:

“President, if I can make you feel comfortable… could you give me the villa we’re living in right now?”

1
Two people growing close or flourishing together despite adversity.
2
Chinese idiom referring to a historical story where Mizi Xia shared a peach with Duke Ling, often used to describe an inappropriate gift to curry favor; etiquette breach