Chapter 51: Handcuffs
The indicator light on the operating room door went out, and several medical staff pushed He Yue out through the heavy doors.
Kano and Wien walked over at the same time.
“Is the male insect He Yue’s female insect present?”
Wien took the form filled with details. “I’m here, I’m his accompanying female insect.”
“There’s no life-threatening danger, the bullet has been removed. Make sure the patient gets plenty of rest. Pay at the front desk. We recommend a few more days of observation in the hospital.”
“Alright, thank you for your hard work.”
Wien glanced at the long string of numbers on the bill, then ran to the front desk to pay the fees and the hospital deposit. His spending habits were always frugal, and having lived alone in the insect world for many years, he had accumulated a substantial amount of savings.
From the first moment he started saving, he had dedicated it to his accompanying male insect. After guarding He Yue for so many years, this money finally had a purpose and a place to go.
“Male insect Kano,” Caines took off his mask. “Is this male insect also a target of the organization? What should we do with him?”
Gunshot wounds on female insects generally didn’t need treatment, but gunshot wounds on male insects were difficult to treat. Caines, with his medical talent, had cooperated with them before, treating Kano’s gunshot wounds more than once, his skills with such injuries quite adept.
But now, the male insect Kano had brought in was shot. Whether to treat him properly or just go through the motions was under their control.
“Do your best to heal him,” Kano instructed. “He was accidentally injured, it has nothing to do with our stance.”
“I understand.”
He Yue lay in bed for several days.
He wore an oxygen mask that covered half his face, his breathing even but weak. His face was pale and sickly, his lips dry and chapped, lying quietly amidst a pile of medical equipment.
His sickly, peaceful appearance resembled a severely injured, fragile divine messenger.
The electrocardiogram on the bedside monitor displayed a steady curve, beeping rhythmically. A large, transparent IV bag dripped slowly, the fluid entering his body through the needle in the back of his hand. His arm was cold, turning bluish from the prolonged infusion of medicine.
Wien placed his warm palm on He Yue’s cold arm, warming it with his own body heat.
He had been protecting him so carefully, never leaving his side, yet his precious Master had still been hurt. Heartbroken, Wien recalled the female insect wrapped in black cloth, and those inhumanly bright blue eyes.
A fierce look flashed in his eyes. The other party had a gun and was so arrogant, there must be a powerful force behind him, making revenge incredibly difficult.
But he had to repay this gunshot wound that had harmed his Master so much, a hundredfold.
The fingers on the hot water bottle twitched, a movement keenly caught by Wien. He nervously observed He Yue’s condition, seeing his eyelashes flutter, his eyes opening a crack.
“Mas… Master…?”
He Yue turned his head, staring blankly at the insect who had spoken, his eyes empty.
“I’ll call the doctor, Master, just lie down.” Wien quickly pressed the call button by the bed.
He Yue blinked, his pale, chapped lips moving, his Adam’s apple bobbing.
Wien leaned closer. “What does Master want to say?”
The oxygen mask covered most of He Yue’s face, the condensation on the plastic making it even more difficult to see his lip movements.
He Yue gave up trying to express his discomfort and silently closed his eyes.
The doctor arrived quickly and, after checking the various values on the monitors, breathed a sigh of relief.
“It’s good that he’s awake. Let’s move him to a private room. Pheromone depletion and excessive blood loss are very damaging to the body. Blood transfusions are only a temporary solution, and since the Master’s body has a strong rejection reaction to other insects’ blood, we only dared to transfuse a small amount to save his life.”
The doctor signed the medical chart on the clipboard and repeatedly instructed, “Rest more, move less. The Master’s body is only four months old, it can’t handle too much strain.”
The oxygen mask was removed from He Yue’s face, leaving a red mark on his pale skin. It stood out against his sickly white face, evoking pity in anyone who saw it.
He listened to the doctor’s words in a daze, his mind slowly starting to function again.
(I’m alive?)
[It was really scary… Host, the system is trying its best to apply for life-saving privileges.]
He Yue had scared everyone.
His own calm demeanor had given the other insects the wrong impression, his composure making them think it was just a flesh wound. But in reality, the bullet was deep in his flesh, and he had lost so much blood that he had gone into shock and fallen unconscious, almost at death’s door.
He Yue himself was also surprised. He had suffered worse injuries than this, but just a wound on his arm, not even a vital spot, how could it have almost killed him?
(I feel nauseous, is there any way to solve this?)
[They gave you a blood transfusion to save your life, but since you’re a transmigrator, your half-insect, half-human genes give you special abilities, and also… a slight rejection of other insects’ blood.]
He Yue swallowed with difficulty, forcing down the bitter medicine that was rising in his throat. The bitter taste lingered, and his throat burned as he swallowed.
(I brought some human genes with me, shouldn’t I be stronger than an insect?)
[The fact is… it seems to be even more…]
He Yue’s expression darkened, and the system didn’t dare to continue.
He was moved from the intensive care unit, with its numerous machines, to a private room that only the wealthy could afford. His ears were finally free from the constant beeping of the machines, and it was much quieter.
(I’m cold, hungry, and thirsty…)
[Host has suffered, please don’t do this again in the future.]
This time, it was indeed He Yue’s unfamiliarity with this body that had caused the problem. But he didn’t like being lectured, and even if it was out of good intentions, he still felt annoyed.
“Master, would you like some warm water? I’ll help you sit up.” Wien, unable to bear the sight of He Yue’s pale, chapped lips, promptly brought a cup of warm water.
This synchronicity pleased He Yue.
He leaned back against Wien, holding the warm paper cup, and took small sips of water.
Wien’s worry and heartache were clearly visible, his eyes filled with concern, his voice soft and gentle, as if coaxing a child, his movements light and careful. He was just taking care of his Master, and as for scolding him, he had no right, nor had he ever thought of it.
“I don’t want the IV drip, it’s so cold…” He Yue grumbled softly.
The cold medicine first touched the back of his hand, then spread through his veins to his entire arm. His body was already weak from illness, his back covered in cold sweat, his limbs cold. The icy medicine was like adding fuel to the fire, making him shiver.
The room temperature was comfortable, and He Yue’s coldness was purely due to his illness.
He heard a rustling sound behind him, and then a warm, soft chest pressed against his back, strong arms covered in firm muscles wrapping around his arms.
The body heat seeped through the thin hospital gown, completely enveloping He Yue. He felt like he was leaning against a human-shaped hot water bottle, even stronger than him, or being held by a life-sized, self-heating plushy.
He Yue turned his head slightly and saw that Wien had taken off his shirt without a word and was now hugging his cold body from behind.
This warmth and softness seeped into his heart, making He Yue feel very comfortable.
“Get on the bed, this is weird.”
The bed creaked as Wien moved behind He Yue, sitting down and completely enveloping him.
The size difference made He Yue look even smaller, nestled in Wien’s embrace. He was tall and slender, with a thin layer of muscle on his arms, not at all scrawny, his muscle lines clearly visible when he took off his clothes. But the oversized hospital gown made him look empty.
This was a stark contrast to Wien’s well-built physique. Wien, hugging him from behind, resembled a large brown bear.
He Yue, now with a source of warmth, leaned back comfortably, the soft, yielding muscles even more comfortable than a pillow.
“Wien, do you know how to get warm quickly?”
Wien was simple and honest, his mind filled with nothing but his Master, always making He Yue want to tease him.
“A hot bath, a hot water bottle, or drinking some hot water.” Wien replied seriously.
“Wrong.” He Yue lifted his hand, which wasn’t attached to the IV drip, and pointed to the honest little dog’s lips. “The answer is to kiss me.”
Wien’s face visibly reddened, and he was already warming up from He Yue’s words before he even started kissing.
“Want to?” He Yue asked.
Wien’s hand rested on He Yue’s bluish arm, his neck also turning red. He averted his gaze and shook his head seriously.
“Hmm?”
He Yue was stunned. He seemed to have encountered a block of wood that couldn’t be flirted with, a clueless little dog, and his teasing had failed.
He was clearly unhappy, retracting his hand and turning his head away.
In the past, his little dog would always wag his tail and lick him. This was Wien, his most loyal golden retriever, how could he refuse him?
Had he ever kissed Wien?
He Yue thought for a moment, and it seemed he hadn’t.
“Master…” Wien felt his Master’s displeasure and spoke cautiously.
He Yue didn’t reply, his eyes remaining closed.
“Master, I was wrong…” Wien apologized softly.
“You dare to refuse me, you bad dog. Get out, I won’t kiss you again.” “Don’t… I want to kiss you, Master, I was wrong.”
He Yue said he wanted him to leave, but his body didn’t move. He was just sulking, and besides, it was too comfortable lying in the warm embrace, so he didn’t move at all.
“Master, I want to kiss you, I dream about it. I want to kiss Master until you can’t breathe, until you cry.” Wien gently massaged He Yue’s arm. “But, Master, kissing you until you’re aroused will make you even warmer… and that will make you uncomfortable.” He Yue paused and opened his eyes.
“Master is already very weak, if you get aroused, won’t you be even more out of breath? Master has depleted his pheromones and lost a lot of blood…” The more Wien spoke, the more heartbroken he became, his nose stinging, his eyes burning.
“Master needs to rest well and slowly recover, that’s what I should do. I’ve already made Master suffer so much by not protecting you properly. If that bullet had hit me, Master wouldn’t be lying here. I should have reacted faster…” Wien had been filled with self-blame and anxiety these past few days. Even though the doctor had said He Yue would be fine, he was still so worried he couldn’t sleep.
“And I even asked Master for a reward, that was really inappropriate.” He Yue chuckled helplessly, his heart warming.
“You really… what does this have to do with you?”
The culprit who had put He Yue in this hospital bed could have been Knasch, or He Yue himself, or even the addicted, unrestrained Koeyle, but it was definitely not Wien’s fault.
“Not taking good care of Master is the accompanying female insect’s fault.” Wien said righteously. “Master is the Master I’ve been waiting for for so long, and I almost lost you again…” His voice was on the verge of tears.
“Silly dog.”
Although He Yue scolded him with a smile, his tone was gentle. He could receive a moth-to-a-flame kind of devotion from Wien, an absolute, unreserved devotion.
He had thought his loyal golden retriever had rejected his kindness, but he hadn’t expected him to be even more devoted than he had imagined.
If kissing his Master would only bring him pleasure while causing his Master discomfort, even if he wanted to, he wouldn’t do it.
Wien’s flushed face nuzzled He Yue’s forehead, and he hugged him even tighter, content.
So silly, utterly silly.
He Yue pointed to the box on the bedside table and asked, “Are there any candies? The medicine is very bitter, feed me.” “Alright.”
There were fruit candies and other small snacks in the box. Kano had brought them, saying they would help He Yue pass the time when he woke up.
Wien unwrapped a fruit candy and held it to He Yue’s lips.
He Yue leaned forward and bit the candy, holding it in his cheek, making it bulge slightly.
He frowned, feigning displeasure. “It’s not good.”
Wien was about to throw away the wrapper when he heard He Yue’s words and brought it back to his lips.
“Then Master should spit it out.”
He Yue chuckled triumphantly. “No, you try it.” The translucent fruit candy was held between He Yue’s teeth, his head tilted back slightly, his lips slightly parted, more tempting than the candy itself.
Wien swallowed hard and leaned in, taking the candy from his mouth. He inevitably brushed against He Yue’s soft lips, even if it was just a light touch.
The big golden retriever holding He Yue visibly warmed up a few degrees.
He Yue lay on his side in his arms, teasingly pinching his flushed pectoral muscle.
“I told you, kissing me is a fast way to warm up, right?”
It was just that the person warming up wasn’t him.
“Master…”
Wien was at a loss with this Master who liked to tease him, occasionally act spoiled, and often left him dizzy with arousal, yet he loved him to death.
“Is Master still angry with me?”
“Of course I’m angry. I’ve never been rejected when I asked to be kissed in the insect world. Every time, I’m kissed until my legs go weak and I can’t walk.” Although he hadn’t asked many times.
Wien’s eyes darkened, his loving heart now filled with a suffocating sourness.
The words He Yue spoke so casually were obviously about Koeyle, and more than once.
Thankfully, reason won over jealousy, and Wien’s hand, hidden beside He Yue, clenched into a fist.
“Then what can little dog do to make Master not angry?”
He Yue thought for a moment.
“You can unwrap another fruit candy for me.”
The fruit candy was very sweet, enough to mask the bitter taste of the medicine.
Wien held the weak He Yue, gently patting his arm, his warm face pressed against his slightly cool cheek.
If the opportunity arose in the future, he would also kiss his Master until he couldn’t walk.
He Yue lay in the hospital bed for several days and finally felt better. He changed into his own clothes and pinched his cheeks in the mirror.
He seemed to have gained some weight.
Nutrient solution didn’t feel substantial, so he pestered Wien to cook for him, not neglecting his stomach at all. He wanted to eat something oily and spicy, but Wien refused, and he had sulked, saying, “I’m the Master, you should listen to me.”
Wien had coaxed him with delicious meat broth, making all sorts of tasty dishes, almost preparing a full imperial feast.
Sick people tended to be a bit unreasonable, even a bit irritable at times. But Wien was very good at coaxing him, always patient and never losing his temper, even happily accepting He Yue’s slaps and punches, truly taking good care of him.
He Yue lay in bed, checking the tracker’s whereabouts.
The red dot on the screen moved around, visiting various places, finally stopping at Kano’s auction house and not moving again. He Yue couldn’t be sure if the tracker on Knasch had fallen off at the auction house, or if Knasch himself was still there.
The doctor finally gave He Yue a full check-up and, after confirming that all his vitals were normal, signed the “Discharge Recommendation.” He Yue, having been served the best soups and dishes by Wien, had gained some weight and looked healthy.
“How many days have you been absent from work, Major Wien?” He Yue teased with a smile.
Wien paid all the fees, his tone light. “The accompanying female insect’s first priority is Master, not work.”
This wasn’t just a requirement of Wien’s genetic imprint, but a principle followed by the entire insect race. Any insect would praise Wien’s actions.
Except…
Not long after leaving the hospital, a female insect in a black military uniform, with gold epaulettes on his shoulders, blocked their path. He looked terrible, his eyes bloodshot, the dark circles under his eyes so deep that even a few all-nighters wouldn’t have caused them.
“Major Wien, you’ve been absent from work for half a month without submitting any leave requests, and you’ve illegally imprisoned my Master for half a month. I have reason to arrest you for violating insect law.”
Wien raised an eyebrow, glancing at the disheveled Koeyle, whose epaulettes were the only thing gleaming, and chuckled. “Sir, do you really think your reasons for arrest are valid? Has your bonding forgotten that I’m an accompanying female insect? My Master was sick and hospitalized, yet you accuse me of illegally imprisoning him…”
He took a step forward, not at all intimidated by the silver handcuffs in Koeyle’s hand.
“Sir, should I sue you for slander, or abuse of power?”
Wien shed all his gentleness, his sharpness fully displayed in front of his “rival.” He was still resentful that his Master had kissed and bonded with this female major general who had stolen his love. He could suppress his jealousy in front of He Yue, but in front of Koeyle, it was like lighting a fully loaded powder keg.
With a click, Koeyle opened the handcuffs. He was completely irrational now, driven mad by He Yue’s half-month disappearance.
Wien extended his wrist.
“If the colonel isn’t afraid of me taking you to court, then go ahead and cuff me, and take me to court. I’d like to see how the colonel intends to keep his hard-earned position, and what he’ll think when he’s in prison.”
Wien could tell from Koeyle’s expression that he was irrational, acting on impulse. He hadn’t found the hospital for half a month, probably because of Kano. Kano had blocked the news, going against the southwest region’s major general’s intelligence network, and had actually managed to give He Yue half a month of complete peace.
The major general had suffered.
Wien glanced back at He Yue, who was watching coldly, a flicker of doubt crossing his mind about why He Yue hadn’t sent Koeyle a single message, but he didn’t dwell on it.
“You think I don’t dare?”
“Why? Does the colonel intend to use his authority to bypass the court and sentence me directly?”
He had hit the nail on the head. The irrational Koeyle was indeed thinking that.
Koeyle raised the silver handcuffs, about to cuff Wien, but was stopped by a hand.
“You should know that my disappearance has nothing to do with Wien.”
Illegal imprisonment, no matter who did it, couldn’t have been Wien. If He Yue wanted, a single word would have made Wien obediently take him to Koeyle, even directly to his villa.
Koeyle’s hand trembled.
He didn’t want to admit it, so he took his anger out on Wien, this accompanying female insect, even using such a flimsy excuse.
“You don’t want me anymore.”
Koeyle lowered his eyes and closed them. There were tears in his eyes, and he could easily let them fall. But he didn’t want to lose face in front of Wien, not at all.
He Yue extended his wrist to Koeyle.
He still had the last 1%. This last 1% needed a strong dose of medicine.
“It’s just a matter of whether I go now or later. I’ll give the major general a choice.”
Koeyle clutched the handcuffs tightly.
He was just acting on impulse. He had said he was here to arrest Wien, but he hadn’t even brought his subordinates.
Later would be fine.
The trembling silver handcuff was fastened on He Yue’s wrist. It was cold and heavy, a symbol of authority and force, yet in Koeyle’s trembling hand, it lost its imposing aura.
Koeyle raised his hand and fastened the other end of the handcuff to his own wrist.
The arrester and the arrested, sharing a single handcuff.
“I wish this handcuff could be on our hands forever.” Koeyle said, his voice choked with tears.
“You know that’s impossible.”
Koeyle tugged on the handcuff and pulled He Yue into the mecha. He kept his head down, not having the courage to look He Yue in the eye even as he sat down in the mecha. He was afraid of seeing indifference, or disgust.
“Master, did I do something wrong?” Koeyle asked quietly, sitting in the driver’s seat.
“The three months are over, our game should be over. There’s no need for this meaningless farewell.”
The expected answer made Koeyle deflate, and he leaned back against the driver’s seat, dazed.
“Did you misunderstand something, Major General Koeyle?”
Koeyle forced a grim smile.
“No, I didn’t misunderstand anything.”
He had lied to his Master. The extended game had made him think he had received a special favor from fate, and every day he stole from the three-month limit, he mistakenly thought it would last forever.
“I didn’t misunderstand anything…”
Koeyle repeated.
