After entering the ward, Yusto casually closed the door behind him. It seemed he didn’t like anyone disturbing him and Lu Yuan when they were alone. He directly locked the door, keeping those unrelated zergs outside.
At that moment, Lu Yuan was sleeping. Hearing the sound of the door opening, he thought it might be the military interrogator from earlier. He didn’t understand why the other party kept bothering him. Irritated, he closed his eyes, turned over in bed, facing away from the door, and said in a cold tone, “I’ve already said I won’t change my statement. It’s useless to ask me again.”
“But aren’t you afraid of being sent to a desolate planet?”
Yusto’s voice unexpectedly echoed in Lu Yuan’s ears, causing him to instantly open his eyes. Subconsciously, he sat up from the bed, clearly not expecting Yusto to suddenly appear here. His expression showed a brief moment of bewilderment, “How did you get here?”
Yusto remained silent, slowly approaching and stopping in front of Lu Yuan. He rested his hands on the side of the bed, his deep red eyes silently locking with Lu Yuan’s. With a mix of complex emotions, he softly repeated, “Aren’t you afraid of being sent to a desolate planet?”
Lu Yuan paused, thinking Yusto was about to ask something significant. Realizing it was about the earlier question, he slowed his reaction, then reclined back on the bed, “Who told you I’m going to be sent to a desolate planet?”
Yusto didn’t want to mention that he had eavesdropped at the door just now, “It’s the law of the empire.”
Lu Yuan smiled, seemingly indifferent, “How severe can they sentence a male zerg? As long as I don’t die, it’s fine.”
So…
“Don’t confess to them, okay?”
The last sentence was spoken softly, but the tone was very serious.
Yusto was taken aback.
After Lu Yuan finished speaking, his gaze silently fell on Yusto’s back. He vaguely remembered that there were no scars on it, making it difficult to imagine that Yusto had endured up to 37 lashes, each one consisting of a hundred light whips.
Yusto had only recently come of age. How old was he when he underwent the punishment? Fifteen? Or sixteen?
Lu Yuan couldn’t fathom it.
Yusto noticed the gaze that Lu Yuan had directed at him. He seemed to smile, but the amusement didn’t reach his eyes. Taking a seat by the bed, he then leaned in close to Lu Yuan’s ear with a teasing yet triumphant tone, “Can’t tell, can you?”
Lu Yuan didn’t quite catch it, “What?”
Yusto didn’t answer but instead raised his hand to undo the buttons of his military uniform shirt. He seemed unconcerned about exposing himself in front of Lu Yuan, letting the spring light spill over him. His robust waistline flowed smoothly, a perfect sculpture as if crafted by the hands of God.
After completing these actions, Yusto directly took hold of Lu Yuan’s warm hand and gently placed it on his chest, above his heart. He stared at the male zerg in front of him with intense concentration, his gaze now carrying a subtle possessiveness and fascination that wasn’t there before. He self-mockingly whispered, “You can’t tell, can you? This place has been wounded before.”
The interaction between male and female zergs was a serious matter, and Yusto’s bold move couldn’t be considered anything but daring. Lu Yuan hesitated when he felt the touch, instinctively wanting to retract his hand, but Yusto firmly held it in place, preventing any movement.
Lu Yuan didn’t understand why Yusto was doing this, “Yusto?”
However, Yusto didn’t say anything. He just held onto Lu Yuan’s hand tightly, pressing it firmly against his own chest above his heart. His voice was hoarse as he said, “Your Excellency, an S-class royal zerg won’t die so easily. Just a hundred light whips. If you were to spend the rest of your life on a desolate planet in exchange, it would be a foolish and losing deal.”
After saying this, as if finding Lu Yuan too naive, he couldn’t help but chuckle, but there was a crimson tearful look in his eyes. It was only at this moment that Lu Yuan realized Yusto, who usually carried an arrogant demeanor, was living under a veil of darkness. The warm sunlight from outside forcefully intruded, making him walk under the scorching sun, all the while hiding his abnormality from everyone.
“…”
Lu Yuan suddenly fell into silence. Through a layer of warm skin, he could vividly feel Yusto’s heart beating, the fact that he could cry and laugh, making him seem no different from a human. The term “zerg” had now become an irrelevant label.
Between humans and zergs, the difference seemed not so significant after all.
Lu Yuan didn’t know why Yusto was acting unusually. Suddenly, he felt an urge to comfort him. He reached out and patted the space beside him, whispering to Yusto, “Come here.”
Yusto hesitated at the words, finally ceasing his laughter. The curve of his lips softened. He lifted his eyes to meet Lu Yuan’s, only to find the dark orbs quietly observing him, the gaze gentle, like a warm but not scorching sunlight.
Lu Yuan said, “Come over.”
Yusto felt as if he was under a spell. Unable to control himself, he slowly leaned closer. In the next moment, he abruptly found himself in a warm embrace. The male zerg’s body was not frail; instead, it was robust and sturdy. The familiar scent enveloped him completely, generating an indescribable sense of palpitation.
“Your Excellency…”
Yusto trembled as he spoke, quickly tightening his embrace around Lu Yuan. His warm chest rubbed against the cool buttons on Lu Yuan’s clothes, causing a momentary shiver. His body was like a stranded fish on the shore, completely devoid of any resistance.
Lu Yuan held Yusto with one arm, using his fingertips to gently stroke the slightly reddened corner of Yusto’s eye. He seemed to sigh softly, “Yusto, are you crying?”
The female zerg in his embrace, with red eyes, looked at him. Disheveled silver hair obscured his expression, making it hard to discern. Only the distinct outline of his jaw pressed against Lu Yuan’s shoulder, and a moist, warm kiss fell on his ear. His voice was muffled and unclear, “Who do you think I’m crying for?”
Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow but remained silent.
Yusto was struggling to contain his possessiveness towards the male zerg in front of him. Like a venomous snake, he entwined Lu Yuan in an almost suffocating grip. His breath was rapid and chaotic, yet he still managed to speak in a low voice, “If you were to be sent to a desolate planet tomorrow, what would you most want to do before that?”
Mark me—
From Yusto’s face, Lu Yuan could read those three words filled with desire, but he chose not to say them. He allowed the female zerg to tightly embrace him, his fingertips gently stroking the back that had once endured lashes. With a half-smile, he said, “Oh, I don’t know if it’s cold on the desolate planet. I want to bring a rabbit there.”
White fur, red eyes, fluffy—it would surely be warm to hold in the winter.
Thinking of this, Lu Yuan couldn’t resist reaching out to tousle the soft strands of Yusto’s hair, finding the sensation exceptionally pleasant.
In Yusto’s mind, he wondered what use a fragile creature like a rabbit had besides being eaten. To be cute, perhaps? He pressed his forehead against Lu Yuan’s, their noses touching, entwining and rubbing against each other. With a dissatisfied frown, his voice husky and seductive, he hinted with alluring implications, “Don’t you want to mark me?”
The Seventh Prince of the noble Salaranfa Empire was now lying in his arms, letting him have his way. How could Lu Yuan remain indifferent?
Lu Yuan was not truly indifferent, of course. He held Yusto’s cheeks in silence, admitting that this proud female zerg had stirred something in him. However, he was about to be sent to a desolate planet; he couldn’t possibly take Yusto with him.
Lu Yuan spoke only one sentence, “Yusto, I’m going to be sent to a desolate planet soon. If we can’t be partners, I won’t mark you.”
To leave without a trace, what’s the difference between this and being a scoundrel?
Yusto was stunned by these words. He hadn’t expected Lu Yuan’s concern to be this. It occurred to him that Lu Yuan was still unaware of his pure blood status—100% purity. He closed his eyes, pressing his forehead against Lu Yuan’s, his emotions complex and varied. He couldn’t believe that there was another male zerg like Lu Yuan in the world.
Yusto silently pulled down Lu Yuan’s collar, revealing the scabbed wound on his collarbone. Without saying a word, he buried his head in Lu Yuan’s neck like a small creature, using his wet and soft tongue to gently lick the wound. His voice was low, husky, and serious, “Your Excellency, please be aware that no matter the cost, I won’t let you fall to such a fate.”
Lu Yuan had always been the one protecting others since childhood. Hearing this sentence suddenly, he couldn’t help but want to laugh. However, he silently tightened his embrace, holding the female zerg even closer. He thought that after going to the desolate planet, he might not see Yusto again and felt a slight reluctance, “Yusto, don’t act impulsively. Whether it’s a desolate planet or the main star, there’s actually no difference for me.”
Yusto looked up at him after hearing this and inexplicably asked, “Is it because you’re going to the desolate planet that you’re unwilling to mark me?”
Lu Yuan made a non-committal sound. Long-distance relationships were challenging.
Yusto paused after hearing this and continued to inquire, “If you could stay on the main star, would you marry me?”
Lu Yuan frowned, thinking that the Zerg Emperor probably wouldn’t agree to marry Yusto off to a poor guy. But seeing Yusto looking at him with teary eyes, hesitating for a moment, he still agreed, “Um…”
Lu Yuan thought Yusto would be downcast and filled with regret after hearing his response. He even prepared himself on how to comfort him. However, Yusto reached out, encircling his neck and slowly tightening his arms. In a voice filled with ambiguous meaning, he whispered by Lu Yuan’s ear, “In that case… when do you plan to become my partner?”
Lu Yuan was startled by the question, “What do you mean?”
Yusto’s eyes, tinged with a deep red, lowered slightly. A mysterious smile played on his lips as he said, “Don’t you know? Lord O’Hara has taken your blood sample. The results of the purity test have already come out.”
Lu Yuan was even more confused. He wondered when Lord O’Hara had taken a sample of his blood purity. Being a pure human, where did this blood purity come from? Subconsciously, he asked, “What is my blood purity?”
Yusto replied, “100%…”
“Wha—?!”
Before Yusto could finish his sentence, Lu Yuan abruptly sat up from the bed, overturning him onto the floor. Astonished, he exclaimed, “What do you mean by my blood purity?!!”
Yusto: “…”
Yusto lay on the ground, silent but gritting his teeth, resentful at the confusion caused by the male zerg. He lazily sat up from the floor, his military uniform partially open, a captivating sight before Lu Yuan. He gazed at Lu Yuan with a touch of resentment and said, “Is this how you intend to talk to me?”
Seeing Yusto like this, Lu Yuan realized that he had unintentionally knocked him to the floor. He hurriedly got up from the bed, pulling Yusto up from the ground, and anxiously asked, “What did you say about my blood purity?”
Yusto raised an eyebrow, “100%, Your Excellency.”
Lu Yuan instinctively responded, “That’s impossible!”
He was a pure human; how could he have something like blood purity, and at 100% no less?!
Yusto thought Lu Yuan’s tone of speech sounded just like that old coot Duke Monck. Taking a step forward, he used his fingertips to gently stroke the wound on Lu Yuan’s collarbone, reminding him of that night. His gaze was deep as he said, “Do you remember, Your Excellency? You successfully calmed me during my psychic outbreak, without even releasing any pheromones, just by being in the same room…”
Just by being in the same room, he had successfully calmed himself. Yusto found it incredible when he recalled that night. He couldn’t discern whether it was the emotions at play or the 100% blood purity of the other.
Lu Yuan still frowned, finding it unbelievable, “But…”
Yusto gently cradled Lu Yuan’s face, silently comforting him, “There are no ‘buts’, Your Excellency. Now, if you step outside, you’ll see the hospital corridors filled with guards. They have been reassigned from the palace guards to ensure your safety. No male zerg in the empire can enjoy such an honor.”
But Yusto felt that those details were not important.
“Now you don’t have to be sent to the desolate planet. Those nobles will pay the price for their offense, and you can… become my partner.”
After uttering the last few words, Yusto’s ears turned slightly red. He stared at Lu Yuan with anticipation, and behind him, it seemed like an invisible tail was swaying in satisfaction.
Author’s note:
Yusto: (〃’▽’〃) Come marry me~ Marry me~
