SZAR Chapter 71

Yi Xi felt his breath catch.

The male was too close. The scent of orange blossom mixed with alcohol hit him full force, the pheromones pressing against Yi Xi’s nerves. The invasive nature of the scent was so intense that his body instinctively resisted it. Yet at the same time, his mind was immersed in the contact, the two sensations tugging at each other, making his sensitive body shiver unconsciously.

Chu Xiu draped his arms around his neck like a pampered canary: “It’s rented now, but I really like that house. Buy it for me, okay?”

The male asked, “Buy it for me, okay?”

His tone was gentle and expectant, like a very obedient child. If Yi Xi said no, he would softly sigh “okay” and not insist, but he would be genuinely hurt and sad, the light in his eyes dimming along with his disappointment.

No one could say no to him. Yi Xi couldn’t either.

The leader of Stellar felt intoxicated by the orange-blossom-scented alcohol, his mind dizzy. He hardly thought: “If you want it, go ahead and buy it.”

It wasn’t until the words left his mouth that Yi Xi realized something was wrong.

Chu Xiu was his male, not that Cointreau who needed financial help anymore.

The female zerg’s account was shared with the male; if the male wanted, he could sell all of Stellar Group right now, and Yi Xi wouldn’t be able to stop him.

His wealth… it was already Chu Xiu’s.

Chu Xiu pressed close to the side of his neck, his voice soft and almost breath-like: “That’s different.”

Yi Xi’s agreement was so swift and decisive that Chu Xiu’s heart melted instantly.

The bartender Cointreau had seen it all: countless patrons coming and going in bars, many of them wealthy merchants or tycoons. They had given out countless luxuries; jewels, watches, cars, even mansions in Central Hong Kong or on the Monaco coast. But without exception, it had always been a top-down, condescending kind of generosity. They didn’t care whether the bartender liked the watch or the car; it was just in their hands, so they gave it away, like a lord rewarding actors, or an emperor rewarding servants.

The bartenders could only accept, it was never theirs to ask for. For instance, if a patron had two watches, a Montblanc and a Patek Philippe, even if both were of equal value, if the patron said “Montblanc,” the bartender must never covet the Patek.

But now, Chu Xiu was asking.

He knew Yi Xi would give it, and in that same tolerant, resigned way: whatever Chu Xiu asked for, he would provide.

It made him feel loved.

In his past life, Chu Xiu had handled plenty of fine things, but to pay off gambling debts, they were always sold immediately, never enjoyed. At the time, he told himself he was indifferent, uninterested in these things. But now, there was a strange sense of compensation, he didn’t necessarily like them, but he wanted them.

So Chu Xiu leaned closer, lowering his voice: “I also want an aircraft…”

Even he thought it was a bit greedy, like a child whose wishes had already been granted by a parent but who still wanted one more.

But he wanted to say it.

Yi Xi looked up, a little helpless, as if he didn’t understand why Chu Xiu was suddenly like this. According to his records, the young master of the Chu family was indulgent and extravagant, with countless collectibles, but the Cointreau he knew had never shown much interest in possessions.

That didn’t stop him from reaching out to ruffle Chu Xiu’s hair, resignedly saying: “Alright.”

Chu Xiu’s wishes were granted once again, so he continued asking. This time, he set his sights on the watch on Yi Xi’s wrist, a tungsten steel watch with a gold-trimmed dial and a clear sapphire crystal face. Just looking at it, you could tell it wasn’t cheap. “I want this one.”

Yi Xi’s helplessness was nearly overflowing.

He lifted his wrist, removed the watch, and fastened it onto Chu Xiu’s wrist. “Alright. Anything else you want?”

Chu Xiu said nothing.

After a moment, he suddenly leaned down and hugged Yi Xi tightly.

He was naturally taller than Yi Xi, and sitting on Yi Xi’s lap, this move pressed Yi Xi’s face against his chest. Chu Xiu had just recently become an adult, yet his body was unexpectedly well-developed. His vibrant form, wrapped under a thin layer of clothing, made his heartbeat audible, blood pulsing beneath his skin and tinting his complexion with a faint flush.

The scent of orange blossom was overwhelmingly strong. Yi Xi’s nose was damp with a fine sweat. He was starting to feel overwhelmed and tried to push Chu Xiu away, but heard Chu Xiu’s muffled nasal voice exhale a single word:

“You.”

“What else do you want?”

“You.”

Only… you.

Chu Xiu wanted him so desperately, it was unbearable. Yi Xi was the most dazzling treasure among all the treasures Chu Xiu had ever seen in this life and the last. Diamonds lacked warmth compared to him; cornflowers lacked depth. He was like the most cherished piece of ancient jade in China, growing more precious the closer you looked, more beloved the closer you got. Chu Xiu didn’t even know what he had done, and this treasure had already fallen into his arms.

He clutched Yi Xi like a dragon hoarding ill-gotten gold, holding this treasure tight to protect it.

Yi Xi froze.

It was perfectly natural for a female to spend on a male. Before marrying Chu Xiu, Yi Xi had even been prepared to give his life, let alone hesitate over money. He had always known his position clearly. He was the Chu family’s lifeline, the male’s personal ATM. Yet when Chu Xiu demanded houses, cars, and watches, his tone remained calm. Only when Chu Xiu said that single word—“you”—did he feel nervous.

It was as if, to Chu Xiu, owning the villa and the aircraft mattered far less than this very embrace.

Yi Xi let out a soft sigh.

He had thought himself prepared. When Chu Xiu truly grew up, able to begin a mature relationship with a mature mindset, he could gracefully step aside. But now, he felt a faint hesitation.

Having experienced such a burning affection, the thought of losing it made the coming long nights seem unbearably difficult.

Yi Xi sighed again and loosened the top button of his suit, exposing the nape of his neck marked with insect-like patterns. The color here was unlike that of ordinary females, an intensely deep red, reminiscent of red wine, the patterns curling like intertwined lotus vines over his pale skin, striking and gorgeous.

Yi Xi said, “It’s faded a little, but it will still take a long time.”

Chu Xiu clearly froze for a moment.

After a brief pause, he jumped down from Yi Xi’s lap, grinding his teeth. “I didn’t mean that kind of ‘want’!”

Damn it, he had been genuinely trying to express his feelings. How could Yi Xi have misunderstood it that way?

He grabbed the food box and stormed out.

The effect on the livestream was immediate. Perhaps Chu Xiu’s behavior had been too intense, because that short broadcast was cut into countless clips and spread across various video platforms.

Some clips focused on Chu Xiu’s “dark cuisine,” others on his beautiful face when he looked directly into the camera. Most captured Yi Xi ruffling Chu Xiu’s hair, the camera had only faced a white wall, showing just their silhouettes. Chu Xiu’s little cowlick was pressed down, and his coquettish voice came through. No matter how you looked at it, it was an extremely warm scene.

Slow-witted netizens still felt dazed, unable to believe what had happened, while the sharp-eyed ones had already acted decisively, going all-in on Stellar’s stock.

What a joke. Stellar was originally a company with extremely high value among the Zerg. The reason its stock crashed so badly before was entirely because Yi Xi was said to be dying, leaving Stellar’s future uncertain.

Now Yi Xi was alive and well, and his male master had even carried a lunch box to deliver him food. Sure, it was dark cuisine, but the thought behind it was already rare enough. In a situation like this, if you didn’t go all-in on Stellar’s stock, whose stock would you go all-in on?

So just like how it had once plunged all the way down, now the stock shot up all the way, even surpassing the market value it had before the crash.

Meanwhile, Yi Xi’s phone was almost ringing off the hook.

His business partners called one after another, accusing Yi Xi of hiding such a trump card, and not giving his old friends a heads-up earlier. Some even asked for advice, wondering what kind of price Yi Xi had paid to get a male zerg to perform this act in front of the entire StarNet.

Yes, they still believed it was all an act.

After all, the male zerg’s behavior had been far too outrageous. No one believed that the moody and gloomy young master of the Chu family would suddenly change overnight, and start doting on a female zerg like Yi Xi, who was already at this age. Yet this brilliant performance by the male zerg had completely dispelled the doubts of the shareholders, and the effect was even better than holding a hundred shareholder meetings.

Hearing this question, Yi Xi fell silent for a long time.

After a moment, he hesitated and replied, “Maybe… a house, an aircraft , and a watch?”

The person on the other end sucked in a breath of cold air. “What kind of house? What kind of aircraft? What kind of watch? Is it that 8,000-acre private villa on the tourism planet? The newest limited-edition Galaxy modified aircraft? What brand is the watch? How many carats of diamonds are set in it?”

Yi Xi: “……”

It wasn’t an 8,000-acregrand villa on a tourism planet. It was just a very ordinary small villa on the capital star.

The aircraft wasn’t some luxury modified edition either, but a rather niche brand with a bit of personality.

As for the watch, it was the one he had worn for many years, very low-key and completely unremarkable.

The other party clearly didn’t believe it.

“That’s it? Nothing else?”

…Actually, there was something else.

There was also a very warm hug.

 ………………

Chu Xiu went home to sleep. He had worked as a bartender for so many years that his biological clock couldn’t be changed overnight. Bartenders mostly worked at night, slept during the day, and took naps then. So the time when everyone else was working in the afternoon was exactly when Chu Xiu felt the sleepiest.

He had just touched the pillow and closed his eyes. Before he even fell asleep, his light-brain suddenly rang. When he picked it up and checked, it was a number starting with 999.

999 was the number of the Male Zerg Protection Association.

He forced himself to stay awake and answered it, letting out a yawn. “Hello?”

“Noble Lord Chu Xiu, greetings.” A careful voice came from the other side. “Is it convenient for you to speak right now?”

The Male Zerg Protection Association was one of the most powerful institutions among the Zerg. They had always been arrogant and strictly valued rank. Before Chu Xiu awakened, they addressed him coldly as “Lord Chu Xiu.” Now that he had awakened and his rank had reached A, it had become “Noble Lord Chu Xiu.”

The person on the other side spoke cautiously. “Hello. Regarding the matter of your father, Chu Dian, filing a lawsuit against you for using extreme language that caused him to vomit blood and be hospitalized. The court session will begin tomorrow. Are you certain you do not wish to inform them about your awakening?”

Ever since Chu Xiu moved out to live on his own, he had never contacted Chu Dian again. The Male Zerg Protection Association strictly protected the personal information of high-ranking male zerg, so the Chu family had no chance of getting more details about the awakening from them. In their eyes, Chu Xiu was probably still an F.

After he drove Chu Jin out of the wedding, Chu Jin had not come to cause trouble. Most likely, that younger brother was holding back his anger, waiting to embarrass him in court.

“I’ll just tell them at the hearing,” Chu Xiu yawned. “Why wouldn’t I go?”

“Understood,” the person replied. “You confirm that you will attend the hearing in person?”

Chu Xiu said, “Confirmed.”

“Very well. The hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. tomorrow. We will respectfully await your arrival at the court.”

After exchanging a few polite words, the other side hung up.

After being disturbed like that, most of Chu Xiu’s sleepiness had disappeared. With nothing better to do, he began scrolling through his optical brain and gave Carey a call.

Carey had been doing quite well these past few days. His spirits had visibly improved. He had always been handsome, but because he had spent years hunched over and was far too thin, he had seemed somewhat weak and prematurely aged. After resting properly for a few days, he had surprisingly recovered a lot.

The female zerg in the video was smiling gently. His straight and elegant nose added a bit of heroic charm, and there was none of the overly cautious manner he had shown before.

Carey was home alone. He told Chu Xiu that Clement, the blond female zerg whom Chu Xiu had taken in that day, had already gone to university. It was said that he studied diligently, his grades were very good, his class ranking was near the top, and he had even received a scholarship.

Then Carey went on chatting about various small things, but Chu Xiu did not feel impatient. Carey was too much like the kind mother he had always imagined, so Chu Xiu simply smiled and talked with him.

During their conversation, they mentioned the livestream from that morning that had shocked the entire net. Carey asked with some surprise,

“Why did you do that?”

In Carey’s memory, Chu Xiu had never been a male Zerg who liked to draw attention to himself.

So Chu Xiu started talking about the young female zerg he had seen on the forum, and then mentioned that casino.

Carey paused for a moment, then suddenly muttered, “I remember your male father seems to have some gambling businesses in his hands.”

His voice was too quiet, and Chu Xiu did not hear it clearly.

“What did you say?” Chu Xiu asked.

Carey smiled. “Nothing. I’m probably just overthinking it.”

They skipped over the topic and chatted for a few more moments before hanging up.

After that, Chu Xiu continued browsing his light-brain. Then he discovered that several million had mysteriously appeared in his account.

He hadn’t touched Yi Xi’s money, and he hadn’t even finished spending the original two million yet. Now several million had appeared out of nowhere. Chu Xiu checked the transaction records and found that it was all tips from his livestream that morning.

As one of the most popular male zerg on the entire net, and with such a handsome face, plus his unusual behavior that morning, it was only natural that he became popular. The peak real-time viewers had exceeded ten million, and the tips alone had reached more than one million.

Some people had also left him messages.

【 Is it real? Is it real? It’s not an act, right?】

【 Will Your Excellency always be this gentle?】

【 I hope Your Excellency will treat him a little better. Female Zerg all have hard lives, and Yi Xi especially has had a hard life.】

Chu Xiu paused.

After coming to this world for some time, he had indeed begun to notice how twisted this society was.

In his previous life, Chu Xiu looked like a successful bartender on the surface, but the pain inside him had almost driven him mad. His profession and his sense of self were completely out of balance.

Growing up with a privileged life had made him extremely idealistic. He wanted to shine in the work he loved and become someone useful to others. But in reality, he mixed drinks while forcing a smile, all while paying off gambling debts that would never truly be repaid. This imbalance made him depressed. Yet the imbalance female zerg had to face was far worse than his.

Carey had once been a military female who fought blood-soaked battles on the front lines, covered in honors. But in the Chu family, he could only hunch his back and endure beatings and scolding.

Clement was an outstanding student who could earn scholarships, a true top scholar, yet he could only lie beneath Chu Jin and endure humiliation.

After thinking for a moment, Chu Xiu sent Yi Xi a message.

【 Yi Xi, I heard Stellar has foundations. Do you know how to set one up? 】

If the show 《Yi Xi’s Home Meals Today》 was really this popular, maybe he could keep doing it. He could use the money earned to help female zerg who were forced to drop out of school and help them finish their studies.

That way, even if society remained distorted, they would still have a chance to earn money. Then, like Yi Xi, they could choose to inject hormones instead of relying entirely on male Zerg.

Yi Xi replied quickly.

【 I do. 】

【 If necessary, I can arrange for Stellar’s manager in charge of this business to meet and discuss it in detail. 】

【 Okay, I need that. 】

After sending the message, Chu Xiu was about to close his light-brain. Yi Xi should be working at this hour, and he didn’t want to take too much of his time.

But the chat window kept flashing, showing that the other side was still typing.

Yi Xi was either deleting and rewriting, or typing a very long message. So Chu Xiu asked first,

【 What’s wrong? 】

Yi Xi quickly sent an electronic invitation. It seemed to be for some kind of treasure auction. He said,

【 Tonight, there is a Century Auction held by the Celestial Sphere Group. They own the largest pawnshops and antique markets, and many treasures appear at their auctions. If you like… 】

He wanted to invite Chu Xiu to attend together.

The house he had given wasn’t anything particularly good. The car wasn’t anything special either, and the watch wasn’t a good one. They were barely acceptable, just enough to make do. He wanted to give something more valuable, something better.

Chu Xiu’s fondness for those treasures was more like an obsession. But personally, he liked Yi Xi more, so his attention was quickly caught by another word.

【 Celestial Sphere? 】

If he remembered correctly, that annoying man at Yi Xi’s wedding, the one who kept forcing him to drink and picking on him, was from Celestial Sphere.

Chu Xiu said, 【Then that irritating executive director from Celestial Sphere at our wedding will be there too, right? 】

Yi Xi paused, then belatedly realized who he meant and nodded.

【He will.】

Since it was their own auction, the directors would of course be present.

Chu Xiu said, 【Alright. Wait for me.】

He hung up the call and grabbed the hair mousse beside the bathroom.

Thinking about that wedding, Chu Xiu actually had quite a few regrets. The thing that annoyed him the most was that, as a top-tier kept man, he had failed to appear in perfect form.

His second awakening had happened too suddenly. His suit hadn’t fit properly, his pants had been too short, he had only splashed some water on his face in a hurry, he hadn’t worn cufflinks, hadn’t tied a tie, and even the hair mousse had been slapped on randomly…

Showing up like that at the wedding where he married his patron, what kind of unprofessional, terrible kept man was that?

Chu Xiu pulled open the wardrobe with a solemn expression.

Tonight, Cointreau had to be the most dazzling guy in the entire place.