Chapter 27

The entire training domain stood empty. Not a single sound existed within the simulated environment. A suffocating, dead silence. Lu Mingjin froze, his lips pressed into a tight line. His fingers curved, trying to grasp something, but there was nothing.

Nothing at all.

Lu Mingjin clenched his fist. His knuckles cracked audibly from the force.

Everything felt so familiar.

Even the protagonist who disappeared felt impossibly similar.

It seemed like a damn replay.

That inexplicable Compatibility Rate, those hauntingly familiar blue eyes, and then that tail suddenly appearing.

Too similar.

Even if this were all meticulously planned, it was too absurd.

Lu Mingjin exited the training domain without any expression. A shadow of doubt had always lurked in his heart, urgently needing verification.

But the immediate priority wasn’t to confirm this omega’s origin; it was to head back and check on his condition. He had fallen from such a height, and even though he’d been caught, there was no telling if something had gone wrong.

Otherwise…

He wouldn’t have an explanation to give.

Zhao Lixin had just extracted himself from the training room. Before he could even process the intense shock, he saw Lu Mingjin also extract himself, walking quickly, his face carrying an expression that could almost be called agitation.

Holy shit… The sun’s rising from the west today.

Even when the Zerg had invaded the Capital Star’s main base, his face had never shown a flicker of emotion.

Zhao Lixin stared at his Boss’s imposing back, belatedly realizing that the silver-haired boy hadn’t followed him out; he must have logged off from his own access point. With an utter lack of tact, Zhao Lixin was about to go up and ask when someone next to him yanked him back. Blinking, their Boss had already vanished like a gust of wind.

“It’s definitely something about that mecha’s owner just now… he wouldn’t be in such a rush otherwise.”

“Yeah… he didn’t even have time to assign us penalty drills.”

“Silver-haired omega, blue eyes, and I heard from Song Hanshan before… panicked like this… It’s absolutely the omega King Yama matched with a few days ago… Zhao Lixin, you tried to steal someone’s partner right in front of the Boss, and he almost fell from the sky trying to save you. You’ve really stepped on every landmine there is. What were you thinking?”

“Oh heavens…” Zhao Lixin thought back to the way Lu Mingjin had just stormed out with a dark face, and he trembled.

This was seriously bad.

Totally doomed.

How could he have known?

Would the Boss get personal revenge? He touched his nose, trying to salvage some dignity. “Didn’t they say the Boss really dislikes that matched omega? Even wanted to send him back. I heard the Queen even called him personally, but he still said he didn’t want it. The match result came out while he was on a mission, and he didn’t even show our Emperor a shred of respect…”

“Hey wait, why does the Queen care so much about this?”

“Who knows? Maybe worried the SS-Rank Alpha might go berserk. What else…” Zhao Lixin mused. “Anyway, before this, he walked out of a meeting with the Emperor just to take an omega’s call. You think he’d dislike this omega?”

“I’d heard about that ages ago… just didn’t believe it then—now I do.”

Zhao Lixin looked somewhat dejected. Hao Mingxu sidled up, fanning the flames rather maliciously. “Zhao Lixin, honestly, not only is that omega gorgeous, his mecha talent looks better than yours. And he can charge into danger on a battlefield to save someone. Who wouldn’t choose him?”

==

Lu Mingjin strode briskly out of Military Command, moving with such speed that a gust of wind seemed to follow him. He still had bits of ice slag on him from the Training Ground earlier. The Combat Medic jogged along behind him, struggling to keep up.

Luckily, he was in decent shape, just managing to match the pace. He Zhao pushed his slightly crooked glasses up, still adjusting them as he tried to keep up. “What happened?”

“I need to ask you a question.”

Lu Mingjin drove himself. Just as he sat into the cockpit, he smoothly shifted gears. The engine roared, the starship lifted off into the air, and He Zhao nearly threw up.

“What question… Please, go ahead…”

“Normally speaking, can a human exhibit feline characteristics?”

Lu Mingjin asked as he piloted the starship, his tone devoid of emotion, perfectly level. But He Zhao could definitely sense the turbulent waves crashing beneath the calm surface.

Mainly because this question was too absurd. If anyone but Lu Mingjin had asked him, he’d probably think they’d gone crazy.

He adjusted his glasses. “Generally speaking… no.”

He glanced at Lu Mingjin’s expression. The latter still showed nothing. He quickly added a hedge, “I’ll need to go back and research it…”

Something major must have happened.

He felt a bit anxious, and a bit excited.

This trip might involve being shown some kind of classified sample.

The starship sped along, even using the Military Command’s green priority lanes. He Zhao’s eyes were shining, but he hesitated upon arriving at Bauhinia Villa.

Could the sample be at home?

Staggering out of the vehicle, He Zhao followed Lu Mingjin inside.

The house was vast and empty, utterly silent. Only the Little Robot V587 whirred and zipped back and forth until Lu Mingjin kicked it aside.

The quieter it was, the heavier the atmosphere felt. He Zhao didn’t dare utter a single word. Lu Mingjin looked unreadable, but his movements were decidedly irritable.

He just followed behind this cold-faced King Yama, holding his breath, completely unaware of what awaited him.

Until—

Lu Mingjin opened the game room door.

Bai Ruonian was curled up inside the Gaming Pod, happily immersed in piloting his mecha.

He didn’t look affected in the slightest.

He Zhao watched as Lu Mingjin’s expression just visibly darkened. He Zhao took a deep breath. “This… is the important, and urgent, matter you mentioned???”

Much as he liked seeing this beautiful omega…

That didn’t mean he liked being next to his Alpha.

Especially when the Alpha right now exuded a feeling of an impending storm.

Lu Mingjin’s expression was also terrible. He seemed to be taking a moment to recover as well.

His omega apparently was in much better physical shape than he’d thought.

Just… in need of some discipline.

“Should I… um… go?” He Zhao tentatively asked, only for Lu Mingjin to grab him.

“There’s still something else.” Lu Mingjin said flatly. “Needs your cooperation.”

He Zhao wanted to cry, did he also have to stay and watch them be lovey-dovey?

Probably reading the pure misery on He Zhao’s face, Lu Mingjin added, “Your leave request is approved.”

The light returned to He Zhao’s eyes instantly.

Mission accepted!

Forget cooperating, he’d even lie down and play dead if needed.

Lu Mingjin didn’t have a fraction of the internal monologue running through him. After speaking, he reached out and plucked Bai Ruonian straight out of the Gaming Pod.

Bai Ruonian was happily playing, then his vision went dark, and he saw Lu Mingjin’s frigid face.

Startled, Bai Ruonian then spotted He Zhao beside him.

A bad premonition washed over him.

“Why are you back so early today… And Dr. He?”

He showed his little fang, curved his eyes, and flashed a smile both ingratiating and sweet.

Lu Mingjin paused for a moment. The next second, he scooped the person out, his tone unfathomable. “You tell me?”

“I don’t know…” Bai Ruonian very naturally clung to Lu Mingjin for a cuddle, feigning utter confusion.

He was done for.

His Master wasn’t buying the bootlicking routine. Master must be very unhappy.

“Didn’t you have a headache? Weren’t you feeling unwell?” Lu Mingjin asked.

“Just… just at that moment.” Bai Ruonian eyed his expression nervously and carefully nuzzled against his collar. “Much better now.”

He added, a classic case of protesting too much, “Look, I could even keep playing the game.”

A scoff sounded by his ear.

Lu Mingjin looked down at the omega in his arms. “This kind of thing can’t be treated carelessly. I specially called someone to come examine you.”

He paused, then enunciated each word. “Blood test.”

He Zhao nodded cooperatively.

“A blood draw, oh, super painful. The Medical Research Department doesn’t have small needles, only great big syringes. Stab! It goes right in, and they’ll draw more than two vials of blood from you, guaranteed!”

The Combat Medic’s description was so vividly graphic that Bai Ruonian’s face went pale with fright. Lu Mingjin glanced at He Zhao.

He Zhao muttered to himself, perhaps he’d overacted.

He shrugged. “It’s the truth…”

Panic-stricken, Bai Ruonian clung to Lu Mingjin, grabbing on for dear life, terrified He Zhao would seize him and drag him off for the blood draw.

“I won’t go…”

“How can you not go?” Lu Mingjin looked down at him.

Bai Ruonian looked up pitifully, azure blue eyes blinking. “I’m fine… really… I was just scared you’d scold me earlier…”

“As if I could scold you. You’re getting more and more impressive.” Lu Mingjin raised an eyebrow.

“I’m your matched omega. Of course you can scold me.” Bai Ruonian shrank his neck back slightly. “Please don’t make me do the blood draw, okay?”

Lu Mingjin looked into his azure blue eyes and also offered a faint smile, but it was rather forced, not quite reaching his eyes. “If not a blood draw, then what?”

The question was obviously a trap. Bai Ruonian also didn’t know what else to do. He hemmed and hawed for ages, then finally resorted to sheer stubbornness. “Well, I’m just not going. I’m fine.”

Saying so, he grabbed Lu Mingjin’s collar, looking very much like he’d drag someone along even if forced to go.

“Doesn’t matter. The equipment at home is very comprehensive. We can draw blood here too.” Lu Mingjin said flatly, glancing at He Zhao.

The latter looked a bit startled.

They were really drawing blood? This little omega was clearly bursting with vitality. Looking at his pitiful state now, nuzzling and clinging, even He Zhao—who could saw off limbs on the battlefield—felt somewhat unable to do it.

“Actually, just a routine check-up would do…” He Zhao spoke up.

Truthfully, Lu Mingjin wasn’t keen on drawing his blood either.

But there was a shadow of doubt in his heart.

It must be verified.

Bai Ruonian hadn’t caught it clearly at first. When Lu Mingjin repeated himself, he froze in sheer terror.

[Great big syringes. Stab! It goes right in, and they’ll draw more than two vials of blood from you!]

Tears just came out from the fright.

He’d been given shots when he was a cat. Back then, he was pinned down for his vaccines. His Master had held him close, nuzzled and kissed him, so heartbroken he couldn’t stand it.

And now this.

Now his Master was actively making them give him a shot.

Just to punish him on purpose.

Meow, the more he thought about it, the more wronged he felt. Bai Ruonian’s mouth crumpled. He let out a full-throated wail and buried himself into Lu Mingjin’s chest, tears and snot pouring out. Combined with his sweaty little face from just gaming, he was the utter picture of misery.

Lu Mingjin’s expression stiffened somewhat. Holding Bai Ruonian, he couldn’t let go, but holding tighter just meant tears smeared onto his clothes.

Caught between a rock and a hard place.

Lu Mingjin glared at He Zhao, evidently blaming him for his overly melodramatic description earlier. Look how scared it had made the boy.

He Zhao also looked a bit stiff.

Watching the omega wailing non-stop, he felt this blood draw probably wouldn’t happen. He clicked his tongue inwardly. Was it his fault?

He finally understood. Lu Mingjin truly had no way to handle Bai Ruonian.