Chapter 9

Shi Qing was a natural at pretending to be a white lotus.

He buried his face in Yin Mingzheng’s chest and was even shivering slightly like he was a frightened little animal. He pitifully asked the person embracing him: “Mingzheng, didn’t you promise to be with me forever?”

“Why did you disappear when I woke up?”

“I……”

Yin Mingzheng’s mouth was filled with acid. He didn’t know what to say to the trembling youth in his arms.

He thought of many possible scenarios.

Shi Qing could furiously send assassins after him.

Or think that he betrayed him.

But he never thought that Shi Qing would leave that ship and appear in this haggard state before him.

Even though Shi Qing had lived for 10,000 years, he spent almost all of that time in solitude on the ship. Other than his ability to adjust his weight, Yin Mingzheng never saw Shi Qing show any other fighting skills.

That made sense. The King of the Mechanical race didn’t need to fight.

As long as he stayed on his ship, countless robots would guard him and fulfill all of his desires.

But now he’s left that all behind for Yin Mingzheng.

An enormous amount of guilt and helplessness filled the man’s heart.

How was he supposed to reply?

Was he supposed to admit that he’s schemed for so long to make Shi Qing add a weak point to his body?

Before Yin Mingzheng could decide what to do, Zhao Miaomiao who had been slapped by this sudden situation reacted. She didn’t miss the tender way the man treated Shi Qing. She suppressed the darkness in her eyes and stepped forward to greet Shi Qing with a friendly smile.

“Where did this child come from? He looks so pitiful. Mingzheng-ge, I have the best doctor on call. Why don’t you take him to my place so he can take a look?”

Yin Mingzheng was also worried that Shi Qing was hurt somewhere. Now that Shi Qing had human organs, he was much more vulnerable than the average robot.

Of course, there’s no way he’ll go to someone else’s doctor.

Shi Qing was unique, so he would obviously go to a doctor that he trusts.

The man lowered his head and said in a warm tone: “Shi Qing, get off first. I’m going to take you to see a doctor.”

Shi Qing wrapped his arms uncooperatively around Yin Mingzheng’s neck: “I don’t wanna go down. I want you to carry me.”

Zhao Miaomiao’s face went blank when she heard Shi Qing order Yin Mingzheng around. A feeling of joy blossomed in her heart.

While Yin Mingzheng was at the base, she tried everything to get closer to him, only to be coldly rejected each time.

Zhao Miaomiao wasted a lot of effort to find out the reason for his attitude. He was a straightforward man, so he disliked people who were spoiled the most.

Someone like Zhao Miaomiao who continued to play around and dress herself up under the dire circumstances would obviously earn his distaste.

After understanding why Yin Mingzheng was acting like that to her, Zhao Miaomiao never mentioned her new clothes in front of him again. She even joined her father’s medical corps.

Even though it was just an empty title, at least she got a job.

It was a shame that Yin Mingzheng still didn’t want to marry her, but his attitude towards her did improve. But one time Zhao Miaomiao sustained light injuries during an invasion and took out her anger on the medical personnel treating her. Yin Mingzheng arrived just as she dumped her food over their head. From then on, he avoided her like the plague.

It’s apparent how much he dislikes spoiled people.

This little bastard from who knows where actually wanted Yin Mingzheng to carry him around.

Zhao Miaomiao’s anger was replaced by a sense of schadenfreude.

She was eagerly awaiting his downfall.

There was no way that Yin Mingzheng would agree.

Behind her, the ability users that rushed over after hearing of their leader’s return also heard Shi Qing’s words.

They all stumbled to a stop and looked away as if they couldn’t bear to see the outcome.

They’ve been through thick and thin with their boss, so they understood him even better than Zhao Miaomiao.

He was strict with himself and placed similar expectations on others.

Everyone knew that Yin Mingzheng hated squeamish people who were weak.

Due to his honest personality, he gathered the ire of some of the rich second-generations on the base. After Yin Mingzheng ‘willingly’ sacrificed himself to save the civilians this time, many of them even threw a party to celebrate.

Now there was a seemingly young youth that dared to squirm into their boss’ arms and order him around.

The ability users were afraid to look on.

Even the boss wouldn’t throw him out of the base by the neck, right?

And yet……

Yin Mingzheng, who was already used to looking after this 10,000 year old baby, didn’t get angry and even smiled. His deep voice coaxed the child in his arms.

“Be a good boy. You’re a bit heavy. Can you get off for a second?”

Zhao Miaomiao: “……”

The ability users: “……”

Shi Qing looked up from the man’s chest and saw that group of people with their mouths wide open. He continued to mercilessly act spoiled:

“No, I don’t wanna. If I turn a bit lighter then Mingzheng can carry me, right?”

The people whose jaws were halfway to the Pacific Ocean: ……What a load of bull. Can humans become lighter whenever they want? This is just straight up lying.

But the most shocking thing was, their leader, the one who was indifferent towards all beauties, actually nodded and played along with the strange youth.

“Okay, be good. I’ll carry you to the doctor.”

The group from before again: “……”

It might just be a trick of the eyes.

But the youth really did seem to become lighter.

While their faces were all like ‘Fuck am I dreaming is this really my boss’, Yin Mingzheng had already recovered from soothing the youth and glanced dispassionately at them.

Everyone unconsciously straightened up under that familiar gaze.

Yin Mingzheng confirmed that no one was missing from his squad before relaxing.

These guys were all overjoyed to see him. Not one showed any signs of anger or frustration. It seems that they didn’t know that he had been betrayed back then.

That makes sense. How could the higher-ups bear to cut off their own foot by alienating these ability users?

The man silently confirmed the current situation. He asked: “Where is Old Huang?”

Old Huang was the doctor he was familiar with. He had a rare healing ability.

The one with the most experience in the squad, Zheng Liu, stepped forward with both hands behind his back. He saluted before replying: “He’s treating the injuries of the Third Army right now.”

“I’m going to find him. Be as you were. There will be a meeting tonight.”

Afterwards, the cold man walked deeper into the base with the youth in his arms. He didn’t even glance at Zhao Miaomiao who was looking for an opportunity to speak more with him.

The group of ability users only relaxed after their boss left. Most of them were usually rambunctious young adults, and they were especially excited now that their boss had returned safe and sound.

“There’s a reason he’s the boss!! I knew he’d be fine!!”

“Somehow the boss looks even stronger than before. I might not have a sensing ability, but I can feel that he’s improved.”

“Hey guys, who’s that person the boss was carrying? I’ve never seen him around before.”

One person was certain: “That’s our sister-in-law, of course.”

After the Insect invasion, humanity suffered tremendous losses during the first emigration. Weak men and women died in droves. After establishing the base, the scarcity of women made some men turn to their own kind. It wasn’t too strange to see two men together anymore.

It was more strange for their boss to actually be interested in someone.

The group were too caught up in their own conversations to care about Zhao Miaomiao, who was standing beside them.

Zhao Miaomiao’s face was turning green from anger. Seeing as they were even affectionately referring to that ruffian as their sister-in-law, she strode away with a cold face.

What sister-in-law?! Yin Mingzheng just came back so she had plenty of opportunities to strike!

The young ability users were happy to see her go.

Zhao Miaomiao relentlessly pursued their boss before. They couldn’t very well expose her, so they had to accept that she would be their future sister-in-law.

But the second day that their boss left, she began to fool around with their boss’ enemies. She was practically celebrating his death. Her attitude towards them did a 180 as well. She even dared to suggest that a squad like them that went out to hunt the Insects be converted into bodyguards for the second generations on the base.

Now that the boss is back, who’s she trying to fool with that fake ass attitude of hers?

“Pah! She should take a good look at herself before daydreaming!”

One of the ability users snorted disdainfully: “I think the boy that the boss brought back is pretty good. Even though he doesn’t seem to have an ability and is a bit spoiled, anything’s better than a snake like Zhao Miaomiao.”

“I agree. I used to study psychology. Someone as strong-willed as the boss is well suited for a more submissive partner. Doesn’t that kid just now fit the bill?”

The other people also voiced their agreement. Some were a bit worried: “But he looks too soft for his own good. How about this, if the boss is really set on courting him, then we’ll all pitch in to look after him when the boss is away.”

In the base.

Shi Qing who was described as ‘soft’ and ‘submissive’ was carried into the room by Yin Mingzheng.

He immediately hopped off and increased his weight to trap Yin Mingzheng against the wall.

The youth with a childish face wasted no time in securing Yin Mingzheng’s wrists with one hand and unbuttoning his jacket with the other.

“Shi Qing, wait……”

Yin Mingzheng tried his best to stop him, but Shi Qing was just too strong.

“Wait……Oof!”

After a minute, Yin Mingzheng accepted his fate and began running through the sequence.

After five minutes, Shi Qing was lying obediently at the man’s side like a little leopard that had eaten its fill. Slender fingers remained on the bottom of his jacket with an air of satisfaction.

Yin Mingzheng who was still being pressed against the wall finally regained control of his hands. He wrapped them around the youth and asked in a hoarse voice: “Why did you leave the ship?”

“To come and find you.”

Shi Qing smiled as he rubbed against Yin Mingzheng’s bouncy pecs. He said in a wronged tone: “When I woke up, you were gone. The ship was too slow so I came myself.”

[System, give me a wound.]

The System that was engrossed in reciting its mantras with a blurred out screen in front of it deftly created an injury.

Shi Qing lifted his hand to show the injury that ‘must be treated immediately before it was too late’ on the back of his hand. It was a scratch the width of a fingernail:

“See? I even got hurt.”

Yin Mingzheng has been seriously wounded before.

On his back, beside his heart, any one of them could have been his end.

But those didn’t hurt nearly as much as the expression on the youth’s face as he showed him his injury.

Shi Qing’s gaze towards him was still clear.

He was only complaining because he couldn’t find him.

And not because he left.

Yin Mingzheng’s feelings were in turmoil. He guiltily and lightly touched the injury with his small part.

“I will make it better.”

The man collected Shi Qing into his arms like a dragon hoarding its treasure.

“I promise you that it’ll get better.”

[Ding! Yin Mingzheng’s animosity value: 40/100]