“Everyone passing by, don’t miss out! The Solitiam Forest Exhibition Hall is open to the public for the first time today. Inside, you’ll find not only rare exotic beasts but also educational presentations. Tickets are limited to one thousand, so act fast before they’re gone!”
A pretty young female zerg in a work uniform stood at the entrance of the newly opened exhibition hall. In his left hand, he held a small flag, while his right hand grasped a megaphone, as he energetically promoted the event. His nose was turning red from the cold weather.
Beside him, the ticket counter was already crowded with eager visitors who had come from afar. They looked anxious and couldn’t help but urge, “Hey, hey, hey, can’t you see this line is already so long? You’ve reached the limit of one thousand tickets long ago. Why are you still promoting? Open the door quickly!”
For unknown mysterious places, whether it’s humans or zergs, there is always some curiosity involved. This exhibition hall began its publicity campaign several months ago, attracting countless tourists eager to check-in. Unfortunately, before its official opening, only invited internet celebrities or stars could explore inside. Today, after much anticipation, they lined up here even before dawn.
Even the promoters didn’t expect the exhibition hall to be this popular. According to the original plan, they were supposed to continue promoting until ten in the morning before opening. Seeing the situation, they hurriedly consulted their supervisor, but the answer remained the same.
“Sorry, sir, there’s still half an hour until the exhibition hall opens. However, you can purchase tickets now. The first one thousand visitors can receive a limited edition jungle souvenir~”
Gaien stood in the VIP lounge on the second floor of the exhibition hall, looking down through the floor-to-ceiling windows. He saw the place below packed with zergs, the line stretching all the way to the street across. He instinctively turned to Han Yan and asked, “My lord, wouldn’t selling only one thousand tickets today be a bit too few?”
He wasn’t involved in business, so he naturally didn’t understand the concept of scarcity marketing.
Han Yan didn’t expect Gaien to have leisure to think about other matters now. He calmly stroked the muscles of the female zerg’s abdomen, feeling like they weren’t as tense as before. “No need to worry. We’ll open up five thousand more slots for tomorrow.”
The exhibition hall is quite spacious, capable of accommodating up to eight thousand visitors simultaneously. Without limitations, it could easily lead to overcrowding issues, which wouldn’t be ideal.
Gaien stumbled forward because of the movement of the male zerg behind him, eventually having to grab onto the glass window to steady himself. Being at a height, he couldn’t help but feel nervous, trembling softly as he whispered, “My lord, we might be seen.”
Han Yan noticed Gaien’s nervousness, kissing the female zerg’s fair earlobe and lightly nibbling on it. He said with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes, “The glass is specially made. They can’t see you. Relax.”
A faint blush spread across Gaien’s face; he couldn’t relax.
Han Yan felt it was alright not to relax; being tense was fine too. He gently turned Gaien’s face towards him, kissing him tenderly while caressing his abdomen. His voice was deep as he said, “Eat a bit more. Later, accompany me downstairs to visit the exhibition hall together. There are many specimens of mutant species brought from the forest.”
Gaien was moved to tears, his voice choked with emotion. “It’s overwhelming…”
Han Yan chuckled lightly, wondering why Gaien was crying again. He pulled Gaien into his embrace, kissing him softly while moving towards the desk. He casually grabbed two tissues from the corner of the desk to wipe away the tears from the female zerg’s eyes, then wiped underneath, before tossing them into the trash bin.
Gaien’s mind went blank, barely being held by Han Yan, preventing him from slipping away. He noticed that the male zerg was becoming bolder; previously, they only stayed at home, but now he seemed to particularly favor the seriousness of the office environment.
As the lingering emotions subsided, Gaien finally regained some strength. First, he smoothed out the wrinkles on Han Yan’s suit caused by their embrace, then he tidied up his own disheveled military uniform. There were two golden stars on his shoulder epaulets, silently signifying his rank as a lieutenant general.
Gaien’s voice was hoarse. “My lord, let’s go downstairs. It’s about time.”
Han Yan picked up the gold-rimmed glasses from the corner of the desk and put them on, feeling a slight chill. His vision was much clearer than before. He glanced at Gaien’s lower body with a hint of ambiguity in his question. “Don’t you need to change your pants?”
Gaien paused at his words. “It’s okay, nothing will leak out.”
In Salaranfa, the substance left by the male zergs in the reproductive cavity not only aids in fertilization but also benefits the female’s body, so they usually don’t clean it out. Unfortunately, they didn’t bring a plug today, so enduring it would be a bit difficult.
Han Yan evidently understood the situation, and finally didn’t press Gaien’s abdomen with his usual mischievousness. Instead, he planted a kiss at the reddened corner of the female zerg’s eye. Then, he embraced Gaien and left the office together, heading towards the exhibition hall downstairs.
The technology of the Zerg race is much more advanced than Earth’s, which made it very convenient for Han Yan to completely simulate the jungle environment inside the exhibition hall.
The exhibition area was covered with expensive artificial turf, and towering artificial trees, reaching four to five meters in height, surrounded it. The branches intertwined, casting dim light. Accompanied by sound and visual effects, various eerie cries of mutant species echoed faintly from afar, sending shivers down one’s spine.
In the middle, there was a pathway for visitors to walk on, flanked by transparent display cases. Inside were specimens of mutant species killed by the military from deep within the Solitiam Forest. Through advanced technology, they were preserved as specimens, looking exactly like they did when alive. Their sharp animal eyes gleamed with a cold light, as if they could leap out at any moment to hunt their prey.
The air was filled with the unique damp and decaying smell of the forest, elevating the realism to another level.
Gaien was visiting here for the first time and couldn’t help but feel surprised. He looked around and then lowered his gaze to the gravel path. To his amazement, he found that the translucent gravel was exactly the same as those found deep within the Solitiam Forest, emitting a faint blue glow under the lights.
Han Yan seemed quite satisfied with the architect’s work, narrowing his eyes slightly. “How does it look? Does it resemble the Solitiam Forest?”
Gaien nodded. “Very much so, but this kind of stone is only found in the Solitiam Forest. How did it end up here?”
Han Yan led him further inside. “The military was planning the construction of the jungle, so I asked them to bring it over. This exhibition hall won’t be open for long, and it won’t serve any purpose once the tourist attraction is completed.”
Gaien couldn’t shake the feeling that turning the Solitiam Forest into a tourist attraction was somewhat unconventional. However, upon reflection, he realized it might indeed be a business opportunity. Just establishing the exhibition hall had already made Han Yan quite prosperous, and there would likely be even more zergs signing up for tours in the future.
Gaien turned his head slightly towards Han Yan and murmured softly, “You’re really amazing…”
His eyes drooped slightly, and he gently clasped Han Yan’s fingertips below. He concealed that hint of unhealthy obsession. This emotion hadn’t faded away gradually with healing; instead, it had grown deeper with the passage of time.
Han Yan didn’t notice the emotions in Gaien’s eyes. Hearing his words, he reached out and touched Gaien’s abdomen, not understanding why the female zerg would suddenly say such a thing. “Where am I amazing?”
But Gaien misunderstood his meaning and blushed, whispering softly, “You’re amazing everywhere.”
Amazing my ass!
Johnny and Gaien had completely different thoughts. Johnny had planned to go out with Prince Pei to enjoy their day off, but to his surprise (or perhaps dismay), they ran into Han Yan and Gaien. He sighed inwardly at the narrowness of fate and immediately pulled Prince Pei to change direction, lowering his voice as he urged, “Let’s hurry, let’s hurry. Don’t let my brother see us.”
Prince Pei didn’t refuse; he let Johnny lead him to another path until they couldn’t see Han Yan and Gaien anymore. Then he asked helplessly, “Are you really that afraid of your brother?”
As the youngest at home, Johnny was usually the most spoiled. Hearing this, he pitifully leaned towards Prince Pei and nodded vigorously. “Afraid.”
The environment of the exhibition hall was built to mimic the forest, with intricate and complex pathways. Most of the tourists followed the main road, leaving this particular path deserted and secluded.
Prince Pei adjusted Johnny’s red hair and felt quite pleased with his spoiled behavior. A hint of indulgence flashed in his eyes as he sighed softly, “Your courage is still so small.”
He remembered how startled he was when this male zerg mistakenly marked him. He had woken up early that morning, feeling flustered and panicked.
Upon hearing this, Johnny immediately lifted his head and retorted, “My courage is not small! If it were, I wouldn’t have had the courage to confess our relationship to my Dad.”
As Johnny brought up this incident, the smile in Prince Pei’s eyes faded slightly, replaced by a thoughtful expression. He looked at the young and handsome male zerg in front of him and asked seriously, “Johnny, do you really want to be my partner?”
Johnny corrected him, saying, “It’s you who wants to marry me.”
He gave a small hint, saying, “That day when I went to your house to get the documents, you kept holding me back and said you wanted to marry me.”
Johnny’s matchmaking trick, although clumsy, was quite effective. Prince Pei tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep, until he finally couldn’t resist and brought Johnny to his house.
In the heat of the moment, they inevitably said some confused words, which Johnny unexpectedly remembered.
Prince Pei felt a bit embarrassed, but fortunately, he had a strong mental fortitude and quickly regained his composure. “Is it because of that incident that you want to be my partner?”
Johnny blushed for the first time, his fair skin making it particularly noticeable. “No.”
Prince Pei was deeply scheming and clearly had control over Johnny, but the male zerg in front of him was genuinely passionate and simple, making him reluctant to use any means. He could only subtly lure Johnny without leaving any traces. “Then why is that?”
Johnny blinked innocently. “Because I like you and want to marry you. Big brother said that when marrying a monarch, you should marry someone you like.”
But Prince Pei countered, “What if you stop liking me in the future?”
Zergs were fickle creatures; when they encountered fresher and younger faces in the future, they might not remain true to their initial feelings. Prince Pei was older and naturally had more considerations.
Johnny pressed him against the corner and muttered, “How could I ever stop liking you? I’ve liked you my whole life.”
Prince Pei smiled. “But what if?”
A businessman wouldn’t just rely on verbal promises.
Johnny paused for a moment at his words, then raised his hand and gestured towards his own neck. “Then you can cut off my head.”
Prince Pei pulled down his hand, thinking that Johnny was still young and prone to making vows easily. Furthermore, he was willing to wager his life so casually. Shaking his head with a wry smile, he said, “You’re talking nonsense again.”
Johnny was at a loss, looking at him eagerly. “Then what should we do?”
Prince Pei ruffled his fluffy hair, pondering for a moment before half-jokingly saying, “Lock you up and don’t let anyone see you.”
Johnny asked, “Can I see you?”
Prince Pei kissed him gently. “Only me.”
Johnny didn’t think it was a big deal at all. In fact, he was even in the mood to make requests. Excitedly, he said, “Then the room should be filled with gaming cards.”
Prince Pei, always indulging him, smiled even more deeply. “And I’ll fill it with cakes and drinks for you. How about that?”
Johnny nodded eagerly, his eyes sparkling. “Great!”
And that’s how they happily reached an agreement.
After Johnny finished speaking, he didn’t even have the inclination to explore the rest of the exhibition hall. With the negotiations concluded, he immediately pulled Prince Pei and said, “Let’s go.”
Prince Pei asked in confusion, “Where are we going?”
Johnny replied matter-of-factly, “To prepare for the wedding. My big brother has already agreed, and my father won’t dare to object.”
Prince Pei thought that Han Yan had indeed kept his word. Although this partner’s appetite had grown, he always delivered on his promises and never caused any trouble when it came to money. With a half-smile, he asked, “Are you in such a hurry?”
In fact, he was even more anxious than Johnny, but he didn’t show it openly.
Johnny, who was originally walking ahead, stopped in his tracks when he heard this, turned around to look at Prince Pei, and fixed his gaze on his abdomen. He asked in a simple and earnest tone, “What if you become pregnant with a zerg cub?”
Prince Pei shook his head, his gaze gentle, as if he were coaxing a cub. “There are no zerg cubs right now.”
Johnny rubbed his chin, thinking about how hard he usually worked. How could there be no zerg cub? There was a hint of disappointment in his words as he asked, “Really none?”
Seeing Johnny’s reaction, Prince Pei whispered something in his ear, though what exactly was said remained unknown. Johnny’s eyes lit up, and he immediately straightened up, taking Prince Pei’s hand and leaving the exhibition hall in a hurry. They quickly boarded a flying craft and hurried back home.
Just because they didn’t have any zerg cub now didn’t mean they wouldn’t have any in the future. By working hard and nurturing their relationship, they believed they would eventually reap the rewards.
Meanwhile, Han Yan and Gaien finished exploring the exhibition hall and emerged. It was nearly 1 PM by then, so they decided to grab a bite to eat at a nearby snack shop they frequented.
When Han Yan and Gaien entered the shop, a squad of patrolling soldiers happened to pass by outside. They were walking hurriedly, as if they had encountered some urgent situation, and each zerg carried a stack of wanted posters under their arms.
If Han Yan glanced at them, he would recognize the zergs depicted in those wanted posters were the ones he had traveled with him on the bus once, and there were two of them. However, he simply found a seat by the window before speaking up, “What are those soldiers doing?”
Gaien narrowed his eyes, observing the numbers on the soldiers’ uniforms. “They should be from the Fourth Army. They’ve been tasked with eliminating the interstellar pirates recently, but many criminals are still on the loose. The higher-ups have ordered a global manhunt, and all patrol teams are out posting wanted notices.”
Han Yan had heard some rumors, more or less: “Isn’t there data in the database about those interstellar pirates? Why the need for a manhunt?”
Gaien explained, “General Blairand rescued a group of survivors and, based on their descriptions, pieced together rough sketches of the fugitives. Although not necessarily accurate, it makes it much easier to track them down.”
As he finished speaking, Gaien’s gaze inadvertently caught a familiar figure passing by outside—the unmistakable form of General Blairand.
Gaien was seated near the window, with no obstruction, and it seemed that General Blairand had also spotted him. Upon seeing this, General Blairand paused, then pushed open the door and walked in.
“Your Highness, what a coincidence to meet you here.”
Blairand’s countenance was gentle and clean, his eyes softer than moonlight. After speaking, he suddenly noticed Han Yan sitting across the table. With belated awareness, he realized that he might be Gaien’s male lord. He slightly bowed in respect, saying, “Your Excellency Ashya, it’s an honor to meet you.”
Han Yan, taken aback by the unexpected acquaintance, politely rose and nodded in greeting. “Hello.”
Gaien, rising from his seat, showed obvious familiarity with Blairand. “I heard from the Intelligence Department that you were still chasing interstellar pirates near Hossburgh. How come you’re back so soon?”
Blairand explained, “Several key perpetrators from the Klayt Alliance have been apprehended and taken into custody. I’ve just escorted them to the prison. The remaining criminals may be handed over to General Saphir for pursuit. As you know, my psychic stability isn’t reliable, so I might have to spend some time in the hospital.”
Blairand hailed from the southern region of Yinchatait, where the female zergs were known for their gentle temperament and possessed the most beautiful wings among all the species. However, this beauty didn’t bring them happiness; instead, it attracted endless troubles.
Many male zergs would specifically marry females from the south to collect their beautiful wings, only to then legally remove them after marriage.
Blairand, still unmarried to this day, but according to the customs of their tribe, he must choose a male lord this year, or he might not withstand the mating season.
Gaien paused. “You’re going to start selecting a male lord?”
Blairand didn’t deny it, chuckling self-deprecatingly and speaking in a low voice only audible to the two of them, “It’s the fate of a female zerg, Your Highness.”
At the time of Gaien’s wedding, Blairand was on a mission abroad and couldn’t attend the ceremony. He had assumed that life after marriage for the disabled prince wouldn’t be much better, feeling a pang of regret for him. Yet, he hadn’t expected to encounter him here today.
Sincerely, Blairand remarked, “Your complexion looks much better than before, Your Highness.”
He had once witnessed this vigorous prince fall from grace and gradually transform into a gloomy recluse, deteriorating under the pressures of his surroundings. But now, Gaien seemed as though invisible hands had wiped away the dust, revealing his true essence once more.
Gaien was momentarily taken aback by the remark, instinctively glancing at Han Yan across the table, only to find him standing politely nearby, patiently waiting for their conversation to conclude, showing no signs of impatience.
“Perhaps,” Gaien murmured softly, “It might be because the sunlight is particularly lovely today.”
The falling snow had ceased, and outside the window, the sunshine was warm, as if capable of dispelling all the gloom in the world.
Originally intending just to say hello, Blairand noticed the dessert on Gaien’s table and decided to order something on the spur of the moment, having it packed by the waiter before taking his leave.
As Blairand turned around, a silver-colored mark on the back of his neck inadvertently peeked out, its color slightly deeper than before, unmistakably the mark left by a male zerg.
Unfortunately, Gaien’s attention was entirely focused on Han Yan, and he failed to notice.
Sitting by the window, Gaien’s silver hair was bathed in warm sunlight. He noticed Han Yan had finished his coffee and spoke up, “Have you finished?”
He remembered Han Yan seemed to particularly enjoy the coffee at this place.
Han Yan responded with a soft “Mm-hmm, finished.”
Gaien: “Do you like drinking it?”
Han Yan: “Yes.”
Gaien: “Do you like me?”
Han Yan: “I do…”
As the words slipped out, he suddenly realized something was amiss. Subconsciously, he looked across the table and saw Gaien leaning on the table, smiling at him under the sunlight. His smile was so genuine and joyful, even his eyes formed crescents.
Gaien said earnestly, “I like you too~”
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