Ji Xing’s alabaster-like face instantly burned with a rosy hue. He lowered his head, trying to hide in the shadow of his military cap, not letting others see his discomfort.
No one had ever spoken to Ji Xing in such a way. His lips moved several times, and he managed to squeeze out a steady response through his clenched teeth, “I… I understand.”
Zong Yuan’s eyes sparkled with joy, and anyone familiar with him could feel it.
Mo’er’s eyebrows twitched vigorously as he walked over, widening his eyes and disdainfully looking at Ji Xing. “Just a Commander, what’s so great about that? Aren’t there plenty of Commanders in the empire?! Your father is a high-ranking Admiral in the empire. How come you act like you’ve never seen a Commander before? Really ignorant!”
Ji Xing’s eyes darkened, and his deep black pupils stared mercilessly at Mo’er. “Eighth Prince, why didn’t you bow to me when you saw me?”
An imperial saying: Soldiers are higher than the royal family.
This royal family refers to all Zerg species of noble status, excluding the Emperor and the Emperor’s male Zergs.
However, no one took this saying seriously. The Emperor always said nice things. When someone truly thought they were above the royal family, they could expect to be taught a lesson.
Ji Xing was now openly demanding respect from Mo’er.
Mo’er’s face turned crimson. He was usually impulsive and hot-tempered, and now he wanted nothing more than to give Ji Xing a harsh lesson in front of everyone. “You want me to bow to you?!”
Ji Xing, with white-gloved hands brushing over his jet-black military belt, quoted the Emperor’s words, “Soldiers are higher than the royal family.”
Mo’er was so enraged that the veins on his neck stood out. He looked around, and none of the onlookers dared to meet his gaze. He then turned to Zong Yuan, seeking an ally for his pent-up frustration. Pointing at Ji Xing, he shouted, “Look at this female Zerg! Just a Commander and he thinks I should bow to him!”
Zong Yuan approached Ji Xing. Ji Xing’s lips were tightly pursed, making him seem difficult to approach.
“You did something wrong,” Zong Yuan said solemnly and then asked, “Can you tell me what you did wrong?”
Ji Xing could suppress Mo’er without a hitch but almost crumbled under Zong Yuan’s brief words. His lips turned pale, and his voice weakened, “I shouldn’t have… treated Eighth Prince like that.”
“No, you shouldn’t,” Zong Yuan took his right hand, inputting his contact information into Ji Xing’s smart brain, then gently holding his hand with the white-gloved one. “You should have waited for me to stand up for you.”
The small female Zerg chuckled, “Tell me, what’s your name?”
Ji Xing heard his own uncontrollable voice, “Ji Xing.”
Zong Yuan savored the name for a moment, holding Ji Xing’s hand and taking a step back. In the astonished gazes of Mo’er and the other Zergs, he bowed to Ji Xing, “Commander Ji Xing, your name is truly beautiful.”
He dropped a kiss on Ji Xing’s white-gloved hand and sincerely said, “It’s a pleasure to meet you today.”
Ji Xing felt the warmth through the white gloves, his hand visibly trembling, and his voice hoarse, “I’m also very pleased to meet you.”
Very, very pleased.
Zong Yuan turned his head to Mo’er, “Eighth Prince, it’s your turn now. Royalty should know better manners than me.”
Zong Yuan actually sided with that female Zerg! Mo’er scowled, pushing aside the Zergs watching the spectacle, “Get out of the way!”
He angrily left the CZ26 training room.
Hishin and LanDe approached, suppressing their involuntary panic, and greeted Ji Xing and the principal politely, “Commander Ji Xing, principal, good afternoon.”
After the greetings, they habitually took Zong Yuan’s arm, “Little brother, let’s go home.”
The beauty of the sub-females was second only to the males, and Ji Xing’s gaze lingered on their hands holding Zong Yuan’s arm. “You should indeed go back.”
With just a glance, Zong Yuan knew what he was thinking.
Amused, Zong Yuan pulled down Hishin and LanDe’s hands, then asked the principal, “Is Commander Ji Xing the person in charge of the First Military Academy this year?”
Ji Xing preemptively answered, “Yes.”
A few seconds later, he added, “Just call me by my name.”
The principal, suspicious, looked at Ji Xing. The Commander was always known for his silence, why was he acting so unusually now?
“Since Commander Ji Xing is in charge of the First Military Academy,” Zong Yuan openly reasoned, “wouldn’t it be appropriate for him to treat me to a meal? After all, I also participated in the First Military Academy selection.”
Ji Xing’s expression softened, “You don’t need to worry.”
Hishin interrupted their conversation, his delicate face pouting, “Little brother~ Both LanDe and I are hungry!”
Zong Yuan furrowed his brow, “Aren’t there people coming to pick you up? Go back now.”
A fleeting look of grievance crossed Hishin’s face, and LanDe, looking at his little brother, turned to Ji Xing, “Commander Ji Xing, could you let my brother and us go home? He had a match with Manan today and should rest early.”
His words were gentle, but the underlying tone wasn’t so pleasant.
Zong Yuan’s expression instantly cooled, “LanDe.”
Ji Xing’s lips curled slightly, then quickly restrained as the shadow of his military cap concealed his expression. Understanding, he nodded with an apologetic tone, “You’re right. Zong Yuan, I shouldn’t disturb you any longer.”
Zong Yuan responded, “I’m glad to have your company.”
A sweet taste welled up in Ji Xing’s heart, and for the first time, he thought these two sub-females were not bad.
His feet were rooted in place, unable to take another step away.
LanDe had seen Zong Yuan in this manner before, cold and indifferent, protecting others. However, he had never been treated like this by Zong Yuan.
Because under normal circumstances, he was the one being protected.
LanDe’s eyes reddened, holding back tears. He looked at Zong Yuan and pushed away Hishin’s hand trying to wipe his tears. “Little brother, you scold me for the sake of others.”
LanDe and Hishin had been with Zong Yuan for fifteen years.
They had been with Zong Yuan for fifteen years, while Zong Yuan hadn’t seen Ji Xing for fifteen years.
Fifteen years seeing and not seeing were different.
“LanDe,” Zong Yuan softened his expression and tone, earnestly explaining to LanDe, “there’s no one else here.”
This statement not only failed to console LanDe, but even Hishin began to look at him with grievances and anger. “Little brother, are you only happy if you make LanDe cry? Between LanDe and others, which one is important? Can’t you distinguish?”
He glared at Ji Xing again. It was all because of this female that the three brothers ended up like this! Hishin was more polite; he didn’t ask the principal or Zong Yuan. Instead, he turned to Ji Xing and asked, “Commander Ji Xing, you know more than we do. We grew up with A’Yuan from childhood. How can outsiders compare in fifteen years? Don’t you agree?”
Ji Xing looked down at him.
The military blood and fierceness on the soldier’s body were vividly displayed when he stared at Hishin.
Ji Xing’s lips curled up. “You’re right, but as an older brother, you should also respect your younger brother. Who do you think is the outsider?”
Hishin saw through his smile and took a step back in fear. When he looked again, Ji Xing’s face remained expressionless.
Suppressing his fear, Hishin said, “Except for LanDe and me, everyone here is an outsider to my brother. Commander Ji Xing, am I right?”
He’s right.
However, Ji Xing involuntarily said, “Wrong.”
His voice merged with another voice as Zong Yuan and Ji Xing simultaneously gave a negative response.
Zong Yuan still had sweat on his forehead, and Ji Xing took out a handkerchief from his jacket pocket and handed it to Zong Yuan.
Zong Yuan’s restless emotions suddenly calmed down.
Naturally, he leaned his head over and playfully called Ji Xing’s name, “Xing Xing, help me wipe.”
Ji Xing stiffened as he delicately wiped the sweat from Zong Yuan’s forehead.
He had never done such meticulous work, fearing that he might accidentally rub the little female’s skin red and bruised. “Does it hurt?”
“With the little strength you have, what can you rub?” Zong Yuan’s hands were behind his back. “And the neck.”
Ji Xing took a deep breath and touched his neck.
Zong Yuan’s Adam’s apple suddenly rolled.
At this age, the body was always full of youthful vitality.
LanDe cried, trying to push Ji Xing away. “Don’t touch my brother!”
Zong Yuan, catching sight of his actions, suddenly reached out and embraced Ji Xing’s waist, spinning him 360 degrees, just narrowly avoiding LanDe’s reaching hands.
The gentlemanly Zong Yuan asked the female in his arms, “Are you okay, Commander?”
Wearing military uniform revealed that Ji Xing had a good physique. After holding him, Zong Yuan realized that Ji Xing’s waist was even slimmer than it appeared.
Ji Xing abruptly pushed Zong Yuan away and hastily walked out, saying, “Excuse me, I need to use the restroom.”
There was a sense of fleeing in his hurried and flustered steps.
Zong Yuan watched his retreating figure, his gaze deep and filled with an enduring smile and delight.
Hishin and LanDe inexplicably felt a sense of fear. They tugged at Zong Yuan’s clothes, “Brother…”
Zong Yuan, for the first time since earlier, met their eyes. “Why aren’t you leaving yet?”
With a usual tone and expression, Hishin and LanDe breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that their little brother wasn’t angry. Hishin complained, “Brother, you almost made LanDe cry just now. I’m about to cry!”
Zong Yuan chuckled, “Hishin, LanDe, I never knew you both could talk like this.”
He pulled away from the two sub-females’ hands, distantly and politely saying, “LanDe’s matter is resolved. You should go home now. Be careful on the way. I still have some things to take care of. Tell female father and father not to wait for me.”
After saying this, he followed the scent of Ji Xing.
The Zerg’s restroom was divided into male and female, and Zong Yuan entered the door marked for females. There, he saw Ji Xing smelling his handkerchief.
The handkerchief was saturated with Zong Yuan’s scent.
“Does it smell good?”
Suddenly, the voice of the little female Zerg rang out from behind. Ji Xing’s body stiffened, his pupils contracting, and he almost dropped the handkerchief.
The voice of the little female continued, “The scent of your future male lord, does it smell good?”
Author’s note:
Zong Yuan’s first world took many years to develop feelings for Fu Xin; initially, it was just a liking. The fifteen years of interaction with his two brothers in this world is just a small episode for him, definitely not comparable to his dear ones in other worlds.
