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The move to this new home was considered a win-win situation, with both parties extremely satisfied. The only downside, as Han Yan saw it, was the proximity to their original residence. As he stood on the second-floor balcony, enjoying the view, he could clearly see delivery drivers in uniforms making their way to Admon’s house with takeaway orders.
One order.
Two orders.
Three orders.
Admon and the others had ordered three portions of takeaway.
Han Yan withdrew his gaze with a faint expression and turned to go inside. In reality, ordering takeout didn’t cost much. As long as Admon and the others didn’t repeat the foolishness of gambling, like the last time when they were deceived by Sande Durant and ended up with a heap of gambling debts, there shouldn’t be any significant problems.
Of course, if Admon decided to gamble again, Han Yan wouldn’t be upset; in fact, he would welcome it. He most enjoyed watching people who never learned their lesson lose spectacularly and then face the consequences.
Among this group of individuals, only Gaien could be considered a relatively normal individual. He usually disliked walking, but this time he thoroughly inspected every nook and cranny of the house. The spacious and luxurious residence featured not only the master bedroom but also seven or eight guest rooms. On the upper floor, there was even an open-air garden adorned with lifelike artificial flowers, providing a perfect space for leisurely gatherings and tea parties.
Gaien eventually returned to the master bedroom. He saw Han Yan sitting behind the desk, meticulously wiping the items he had taken out of the boxes with a towel. The sunlight outside was gentle, casting a golden sheen on the male’s refined profile, imparting an inexplicable sense of warmth and jade-like gentleness.
Gaien limped forward and whispered, “My lord, please rest. I can take care of the rest.”
Salaranfa males typically didn’t engage in tasks; they were accustomed to lounging at home, pampered by the females. Individuals like Han Yan, who personally engaged in business and entrepreneurship, were quite rare.
Han Yan acknowledged with a nod but didn’t stop his actions.
Gaien had no choice but to help him tidy up while making casual conversation, “My lord, there are plenty of guest rooms in the house. After we finish organizing, you could invite your male relatives to come and stay for a couple of days.”
Han Yan nodded, “I’ll consider it.”
However, it was just a consideration, and he hadn’t made any commitment.
Han Yan, with his minimal sense of familial ties, clearly wasn’t one to frequently interact with relatives. Moreover, considering the houses were just a street apart, they could easily cross paths during their morning exercises every day. As a result, any lingering traces of farewell sentiment were instantly dispelled without much ado.
Gaien remembered another matter and said, “You inquired about the extermination of the exotic beasts in the Solitiam Forest before. The leader responsible for leading the expedition has been confirmed.”
Han Yan paused in his wiping motion at the mention of this, “Hasn’t the news mentioned that those mutated species are completing self-purification? Why the need for extermination?”
Gaien explained, “The Solitiam Forest is too vast, and after eliminating the source of contamination, the Empire intends to reclaim and reuse it. To be on the safe side, they’ll dispatch troops to thoroughly investigate the potential dangerous species still hiding inside.”
Han Yan casually inquired, “Who is the commanding officer?”
At his words, Gaien fell silent for a moment. Finally, he softly uttered a single word, “Me.”
With that statement, the air in the room fell into complete silence.
As if fearing Han Yan might not have heard clearly, Gaien repeated, “I am the one in charge of leading the expedition.”
Han Yan instinctively looked up at Gaien. He observed the earnest expression on the female’s face, finding no trace of deceit. After placing the cleaned items back on the table, Han Yan raised an eyebrow and asked casually, “Did you apply for it yourself, or were you sent by the military?”
Gaien, with his right leg disabled, usually received assignments in administrative roles from the military, given his status as a prince. Tasks involving leading expeditions for clearing operations were not typically assigned to him.
Gaien pursed his lips, “I apologize. I applied for it myself, and it happened suddenly, so I didn’t have the chance to inform you beforehand.”
He wasn’t sure if Han Yan would be upset, so he kept a close eye on the male’s expression. However, Han Yan’s eyes behind the lenses remained emotionally neutral, showing no fluctuations. He only asked with two words, “The reason?”
However, Gaien didn’t directly respond, “If you don’t agree, I can withdraw the application.”
Han Yan showed interest, “Why?”
Gaien spoke in a low voice, a hint of emotion hidden within, “You are my male lord.”
Han Yan rarely intervened in Gaien’s affairs, and missions outside were quite common for military omegas. However, Gaien, with his typically reserved nature, suddenly volunteering for active duty naturally raised some curiosity and suspicion.
Han Yan’s curiosity wasn’t particularly strong, “If you want to go, then go.”
After a brief pause, he asked, “When is the departure date?”
Gaien replied, “It hasn’t been decided yet, probably a month from now.”
Han Yan didn’t ask any more questions and continued wiping the dusty items from the box, one after another. Only when the entire box was emptied did he finally light a cigarette, seemingly remembering something, and said, “When the military is clearing the forest, help me find a particular zerg.”
Gaien’s pace of organizing was noticeably faster than Han Yan’s. At that moment, he was preparing to toss a pile of unused items downstairs. Upon hearing Han Yan’s request, his steps hesitated slightly, and he subconsciously looked at Han Yan, “Find a zerg?”
Perhaps his focus should have been on why Han Yan wanted to find a “zerg” in the “forest”. Everyone knew that the Solitiam Forest was fraught with danger, making it impossible for any zerg to survive inside.
It was akin to seeking a living person in the realm of the dead.
Han Yan, however, merely acknowledged with a sound, “Black hair, black eyes, carrying a long sword, not very old.”
Apart from the encounter on the bus, many years had passed since Han Yan last saw Ah Sui. He vaguely recalled that Ah Sui should be relatively young, having just entered his twenties. Han Yan didn’t provide a detailed description of Ah Sui’s appearance. In the realm of Salaranfa, the four words “black hair, black eyes” were sufficient to narrow down the search range to the extreme.
Gaien, puzzled, asked, “Is it a female?”
Han Yan, exhaling a plume of smoke, denied with a mysterious tone, “No, it’s a male.”
He had reviewed medical literature before; the male human physique was essentially identical to the structure of male zergs. Ah Sui had a clean and unmarked neck, lacking any zerg-like patterns. In the context of Salaranfa, he would be classified as a “male”.
Gaien silently gazed at Han Yan, “Is he your friend?”
It seemed like Gaien had never heard of such a friend in Han Yan’s circle. Currently, the only black-haired and black-eyed male zerg in Salaranfa was Yusto’s partner, a fortuitous find from the Solitiam Forest.
Han Yan flicked away some cigarette ash, unsure of how to explain to Gaien. Following Earth’s generational terms, Ah Sui should address him as “Grandpa San” but for the sake of simplicity, he tacitly accepted the term “friend”. “Yeah, something like that.”
Gaien hesitated before speaking, “The forest is very dangerous. I’m worried about your friend…”
Han Yan, hearing this, gently wedged the partially burned cigarette into the ashtray’s edge. Wisps of white smoke curled upward, concealing his true emotions, “Being alive is better. If he dies…”
Han Yan paused, his eyes closing in a calm manner, “If he dies, bring back the body.”
His voice was light and ethereal, as if carried away by the smoke, drifting far away beyond the window.
Observing Han Yan’s demeanor, Gaien refrained from further questions, nodded in agreement, and limped out of the room. He always knew how to navigate Han Yan’s moods, understanding when to ask and when not to. It was akin to how he never pressed Han Yan about the reasons behind searching for the black-haired, black-eyed friend. It was enough for him to know that the friend wasn’t someone romantically involved with Han Yan.
When it came time for dinner in the evening, Gaien initially considered ordering takeout but thought better of it. Given that it was their first day in the new house, he decided to open the terminal and search for recipes on the star network. Following the instructions, he began cooking in the kitchen.
Gaien still remembered the three words Han Yan mentioned that evening: “Cultivating moral character.” As a qualified monarch, it wasn’t appropriate to indulge in revelry with a male every night; it wasn’t good for the kidneys.
Gaien specifically searched for several soups on the star network that were known for nourishing the male physique. Following video instructions, he threw various peculiar herbs into the pot to boil. His culinary skills weren’t as disastrous as Yusto’s; in fact, he often received high scores. However, the strange taste of the soup itself overwhelmed the kitchen with a bitter medicinal aroma.
The female broadcaster responsible for teaching the recipe used an ambiguous tone in the video, saying, “This soup is a great tonic for males~ Make sure to keep an eye on your males and don’t let other little fairies take advantage~”
Gaien didn’t catch the latter part of the broadcast; he only heard the broadcaster saying that the soup was a great tonic for males and that every second of boiling was crucial. Eager to follow the instructions precisely, he hastily scooped a bowl of the soup and, in his haste, accidentally swept the terminal off the table and into the sink.
When Han Yan came downstairs, he detected the peculiar smell. Observing Gaien bustling in the kitchen, he inquired, “What are you doing?”
Hastily retrieving the terminal from the water, Gaien tried to downplay the situation, “Nothing much. Dinner is ready. You can wash up and eat.”
Having tidied up the kitchen, Gaien brought the prepared dishes to the table. He also pushed a bowl of steaming, dark soup towards Han Yan, saying, “This soup is specially brewed for you.”
Han Yan glanced at the unidentified concoction, responding with a neutral tone, “Soup?”
Realizing the peculiar appearance, Gaien hesitated and added, “I added some medicinal herbs to nourish the body.”
Han Yan didn’t inquire further and quietly began to eat. As for the bowl of soup, he took a couple of sips and left it untouched. It was filled with potent medicinal herbs, and consuming it entirely would likely result in a sleepless night.
After finishing the meal, Gaien stood up to clear the dishes, apparently intending to discard the untouched bowl of soup. Han Yan, feeling the warmth lingering in the porcelain bowl, directly pushed it in front of Gaien. Concisely, he said, “Don’t waste it. Drink it yourself.”
Gaien hesitated upon hearing this, “Me? Drink it?”
Han Yan nodded. There was a subtle assessment in his ash-blue eyes behind the lenses, and his voice, low and composed, stated, “Isn’t it for nourishing the body? Drink it.”
It seemed that this monarch was a bit confused about who held the upper hand between them, contemplating the idea of nourishing his own body. Han Yan found the situation quite amusing.
Gaien, unaware that the female broadcaster mentioned that female zergs could also drink such concoctions, noticed Han Yan’s gaze and, adhering to the principle of not wasting, took a gulp in one go. He found the taste indeed peculiar, explaining why Han Yan wasn’t fond of it.
Han Yan asked Gaien, “Is it good?”
Gaien nodded and shook his head simultaneously.
Han Yan glanced at Gaien’s flushed cheeks and said, seemingly contemplating something, “It’s getting late. Finish up and get to bed early. We have work tomorrow, and insomnia is not good.”
At that moment, Gaien didn’t fully grasp the implication of Han Yan’s words. It wasn’t until bedtime that he finally caught a glimpse of what was hinted at. He felt uncomfortably warm, unable to sleep even after removing all his clothes.
Listening to the restless movements beside him, Han Yan quietly opened his eyes in the darkness, and eventually, he closed them gently, appearing undisturbed by the stirrings in the night.
Gaien only felt somewhat cooler when he was close to Han Yan. He lay on the male’s shoulder, his face flushed with an abnormal warmth. In a hoarse voice, he murmured, “My lord…”
Han Yan responded with a simple acknowledgment.
Hesitating, Gaien uttered a single word, “Hot…”
Han Yan’s reply was always succinct, “Turn on the air conditioning.”
That was how it always went with these tonics.
Gaien belatedly realized that it might be due to the soup he drank earlier. Turning on the air conditioning might not be enough. Unconsciously, he leaned against Han Yan, his eyes reddened. Tears dampened his thick eyelashes, and unable to endure, he emitted a muffled sound akin to a whimper.
Han Yan understood that this female monarch was intentionally trying to seduce him, but he remained unmoved. He thought it might be good for him to remember not to concoct random things next time. Running his fingers through Gaien’s silver hair, he exerted a bit of force to guide him into his embrace.
Han Yan spoke softly, “Sleep.”
“…”
Upon hearing this, Gaien’s body stiffened. He had no choice but to lie obediently in the male’s embrace and endure the waves of heat within him, struggling through the long night.
As expected, it was a sleepless night.
Early the next morning, Gaien, as usual, helped Han Yan button his shirt. The latter’s eyes lowered, noticing the bluish tint under Gaien’s eyes. He asked with a smile that may or may not be a smile, “Are you planning to brew soup again today?”
Gaien’s movements stuttered, feeling a bit embarrassed. “I won’t brew it anymore.”
He had been restless the entire night, and his throat was hoarse from talking.
Poor thing…
Han Yan thought indifferently.
He pressed Gaien against the desk, adding a touch of feigned compassion, and hooked his fingers under the female monarch’s pointed chin, giving him a deep and lingering kiss. Gaien’s eyelashes trembled, and he responded eagerly, gripping Han Yan’s neck. It was almost time for work, and the remaining time clearly wasn’t enough for a round, but satisfying their appetites a bit would have to do.
He turned around and promptly blocked that cooking show host.
Gaien, lost in thought, subconsciously glanced at the terminal on his wrist. To his surprise, the screen was flickering, perhaps damaged by the water immersion yesterday.
Han Yan noticed his movement, using his fingertips to rub Gaien’s wrist. Emotionlessly, he asked, “Is it broken?”
Gaien replied, “It might have been damaged accidentally while I was cooking yesterday.”
Having accidentally knocked it during military training before and soaked it in water yesterday, the terminal was likely on its last legs and would soon be completely unusable.
Without further questioning, Han Yan finished arranging his clothes and went to work with Gaien. Their lives were busy and hectic, with daily routines similar to those of humans on Earth.
The military closely monitored the movements in the forest lately, dissecting the bodies of new mutated species sent to the research institute every day. Gaien was responsible for the eradication operations and had to participate. Despite the disability in his right leg preventing him from going to the battlefield, he excelled in all his training subjects, be it intelligence processing or medical anatomy. He was proficient in all aspects.
It wasn’t until lunch break that Gaien finally paused his work in the lab and walked out. He unbuttoned his white lab coat and casually hung it on the hanger, limping to take a seat at his desk. He noticed his colleagues gathering together to discuss what to have for lunch.
These military females were often too busy to pay much attention to their meals. In the past, they would make do with the leftovers at the military canteen. However, since the popularity of food delivery apps, their daily lunch had become a source of motivation for a day’s work. Whenever they had some free time, they liked to explore new restaurants in the vicinity. The office’s giant trash bin behind them would be filled with takeout containers by the end of the day.
Gaien took a sip of water from his cup, his voice still a bit hoarse. One of his colleagues noticed him resting at his desk and asked, “General, we’re planning to order takeout for lunch today. The new burger restaurant downstairs has a combo you like, right?”
In response, Gaien instinctively opened his terminal, only to find that it was now completely unresponsive. He closed it and replied, “You guys decide; I’m fine with anything.”
His colleague inquired, “Is your terminal broken?”
Gaien nodded, “I’ll replace it after work.”
Gaien, known for his reserved nature, didn’t express much as his colleagues were accustomed to his silence. They decided on a meal for him, but not long after, a female soldier knocked on the office door, announcing, “General Gaien, your male lord is here to see you.”
Close to lunchtime, with not many zergs around the office, the announcement echoed throughout, drawing the attention of all the females in the room. A collective question rose, “Whose male lord is here?!”
The messenger marveled at the scene, realizing the females in the office were clearly enthusiastic about potential male lords, despite most of them being unmarried. He clarified, “It’s not any of your male lord, for sure.”
The military female scanned the surroundings and noticed Gaien sitting by the window. He called out again, “General Gaien, your male lord is here to see you.”
Gaien had heard the voice just now but doubted his ears. After all, why would Han Yan suddenly come to the military base for no reason? Subconsciously, he pushed his chair back and stood up, thinking they might be playing a joke on him. He furrowed his brows and said, “My lord?”
“Yeah, your male lord is waiting at the office door.”
The military female said, glancing outside, then pointing to the right corridor, “Wearing glasses…”
Before the words had fully left his mouth, Gaien had already briskly walked to the door. Due to his anxious steps, he nearly tripped but managed to catch himself. To his surprise, he saw a familiar figure waiting in the corridor.
This morning, Han Yan had gone to the company to finalize the signing of several dozen broadcasters he had been interested in. The signing process went smoothly, resulting in him finishing work earlier than expected. While passing by the mall, he suddenly remembered that Gaien’s terminal was broken and decided to buy a new one on the way.
Han Yan saw Gaien coming out of the office, his expression clearly shocked and at a loss. In retrospect, he realized that his actions might have caused Gaien quite a bit of “alarm”.
Originally leaning against the wall, Han Yan slowly straightened up and walked toward Gaien. He crossed his arms and observed the other person, softly stating the fact, “Your terminal is broken.”
When he messaged Gaien at noon today, he didn’t receive a reply.
Gaien, upon hearing this, subconsciously reached for his wrist, only to find it empty. It then occurred to him that he had already left the broken terminal on his office desk. “Sorry, I haven’t had the chance to replace it. Did you come here suddenly because something urgent happened?”
Gaien thought straightforwardly. Han Yan’s life was usually very routine, sticking to the schedule of work and residence without deviations. Coming to the military base during lunch break indicated there must be something urgent.
Han Yan glanced at him without responding, instead, he handed a blue gift box to Gaien.
Gaien subconsciously reached out and took the gift box, somewhat puzzled. With Han Yan’s silent approval, he opened the box and found a new blue terminal inside. Perplexed, he looked at the male zerg. “My lord?”
Han Yan adjusted his glasses and spoke in his usual calm tone, “I got off work early today, so I brought it over on my way. Do you like the color?”
The performance of new terminals in the market was generally similar, with the only significant difference being the color.
Gaien, after a moment of hesitation upon hearing Han Yan’s words, quickly composed himself. He looked at the terminal in the box, which had a color similar to Han Yan’s eyes, and, under the male zerg’s gaze, he put it on his wrist. It fit perfectly, and he spoke softly, “The color is beautiful. Thank you.”
Han Yan nodded, “Have you had lunch?”
It was only a few minutes into the lunch break, and Gaien probably hadn’t had the chance to eat yet.
Gaien glanced unconsciously into the office, and it seemed like his colleagues had already ordered takeout. He suggested, “I haven’t had the chance to eat yet. How about I take you downstairs to the restaurant? We can have lunch together.”
The office environment was a bit chaotic, and he was concerned that Han Yan might not like it.
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![He Lived Like You [End of the World]](https://www.freenovels.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/HLLY.jpg "He Lived Like You [End of the World]")
