APUTFFZG Chapter 32.1

Translator: Deyonna

Tip me

"Did he agree? Did he agree?... What did the email say?"

Several professors from different colleges stared eagerly at the dean's terminal, but they watched the dean's expression gradually freeze, and he finally sighed helplessly. "He declined."

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Did you not write the email sincerely, Old Nor? Or did you forget to attach our school's prospectus?"

"Did someone leak the news and let the Imperial Star Military Academy poach him first? He's clearly a good seedling for research. He should come to us!"

"Quiet down."

Norman adjusted his monocle and said softly, "The kid mentioned in the email that he has social phobia and has already solved his financial problems, so he won't be coming."

The meeting room fell silent for a moment before an old professor spoke in a rough, shaky voice. "How about we don't ask him to come in person and keep up our exchanges online?"

"We can't rush this!"

Norman found it both funny and frustrating, so he waved a hand to end the meeting. "I'll try to contact him again later."

The small impromptu meeting ended quickly. Only one highly respected professor stayed seated. Seeing Norman's solemn expression, he offered a few words of comfort.

Norman put down the documents in his hands and sighed at the old professor. "I don't think it'll be that easy."

"Why do you say that? Is there some other reason?"

Norman raised another matter, his voice full of regret. "Do you still remember the male zerg named Ye Er who came up before?"

"That male zerg who was picked up from the battlefield, knew nothing about the zerg race, couldn't even speak the language, and yet completed advanced education courses in two years?"

The professor recalled that the incident had caused quite a stir at the time. Many minor nobles had been motivated to recruit him to their camp.

"But a D-level male zerg... his skill level is what it is, and his upper limit won't be much higher. Honestly, no one paid him much attention."

"Unexpectedly, that male zerg turned down every invitation and even seemed to drop out of school. After leaving the Main Planet, he disappeared completely."

"His abilities and talent are exceptional, and his character was pretty good too."

Thinking back to the examination video he had watched before, the professor drew his conclusion, but seeing Norman's complicated expression, he was suddenly startled. "You mean...?"

"Yes, it's him."

The professor sighed. "Then it really is difficult. I remember that because of a certain incident, he was placed on the red alert protection list. An alarm would go off wherever he went, which must have been vexing. That's probably why he chose to leave the Main Planet."

Norman rubbed his brow wearily. "I'll think about it again. That kid, Adelaide, is so stubborn... None of them are easy to deal with!"

---

"Axon is a reputable research institute. It's the lifeblood that supplies the academic world with high-quality, fresh talent. Its reputation and status are almost comparable to those of the Imperial Military Academy... Won't you reconsider?"

Xi Ze glanced at the familiar logo, then looked up at the male zerg with a troubled expression. After a moment's thought, he advised him softly.

After all, it was a pity to pass up a chance to better oneself. The gap in resources between the Main Planet and a border star like Aitar was like that between heaven and earth.

Ye Er hesitated for a moment. He had already looked into this school when he received the payment. It really was a very good school, but...

"Forget it."

Having confirmed that the email had been sent, he tossed his terminal aside, feeling hopelessly resigned, like a rebellious teenager who hated school.

"I don't want to go somewhere full of zergs and have to deal with all kinds of zerg races. It feels too draining. I'd rather just stay home and study."

Catching a flicker of annoyance and fear in the male zerg's eyes, Xi Ze was slightly startled and unconsciously softened his tone. "It's okay. You don't have to go if you don't want to."

Ye Er hummed vaguely through his nose and slowly slid down, settling skillfully into a comfortable position on the sofa.

"I stayed up late again last night. I'll take a nap first. You can find something you want to do..."

Xi Ze picked up the terminal that had rolled onto the floor. Glancing at the male zerg's sleepy face, he stroked the terminal's glossy surface with his fingertips without thinking.

But after a moment's hesitation, he set the terminal on the coffee table and reached out to tuck the quilt around Ye Er. "Okay, you rest first."

---

When Ye Er woke in a daze, bright sunlight was streaming in from outside. The female zerg was leaning against the sofa with his arms crossed and his eyes closed, resting.

But even at rest, Xi Ze kept his shoulders and back tense, with no trace of weakness or powerlessness. His slightly furrowed brow looked serious and unapproachable, as if he were a bit uncomfortable.

Ye Er felt a bit embarrassed about hogging the other's seat. His ears warmed slightly, yet he also felt inexplicably at ease.

"Male Lord?"

Xi Ze opened his eyes at the movement, then pinched the bridge of his nose to drive off the drowsiness. His somewhat cold expression gradually softened. "You're up? Are you hungry?"

"Not really. What time is it now..." Ye Er lifted the quilt and got off the sofa, suddenly remembering he had something to do today. "I have an important matter to take care of."

Xi Ze hesitated. "Where are you going?"

"To the war zone hospital. It's the day of the agreed pheromone exchange. I'll pick up your test results while I'm there."

Ye Er put on the coat that was draped over the back of the sofa. "Tell 015 not to make lunch for me."

"Okay. Be careful on the road."

Ye Er turned to look at him. The female zerg on the sofa was watching him intently, and for a moment he felt a little dazed.

The scene looked just like every time he had gone out before, when Tangyuan would already be waiting at the doorway, its dark eyes moist and its nose whimpering with reluctance, its soft tail rubbing longingly against his pant leg.

"I'll be back soon."

He whispered it instinctively, then curved his lips into a smile. "...See you later."

After he left, the room fell quiet.

The balcony curtains swayed and slipped off their hooks, casting a large, light shadow across the living room.

---

Ye Er pulled his coat's hood down further. The fluffy hood, mask, and scarf wrapped him up tightly.

Soon, a silver hovercar descended from the sky.

A female zerg jumped out of the driver's seat and eagerly opened the door for him. "Please get in, Your Excellency. I'm the driver responsible for picking you up this time."

Ye Er thanked him, stooped to get in, and the door was gently closed behind him.

The hovercar ran very smoothly, and the heater was turned up so high it made Ye Er feel a bit stuffy. It was the kind of temperature that made one drowsy.

But when he happened to glance up, he caught a pair of eyes in the rearview mirror that quickly looked away. Some unknown shadow seemed to flash through them, making the female zerg's expression look a bit frightening.

"What are you looking at?"

"Nothing. I was just making sure your seat belt was fastened. Your Excellency has excellent safety awareness."

It was supposed to be a small incident, but the dark, obscure gaze, vague and elusive*, clung to him like slime and made Ye Er quite uncomfortable.

*Seemingly there and not there

His finger hovered over the emergency call button on his terminal. Ye Er looked up at the rearview mirror again, and this time he met a pair of pitch-black eyes head-on.

Without looking away, he said slowly, "What are you looking at this time?"

The driver looked flustered and apologetic as he quickly glanced away.

"It's because Your Excellency is so good-looking that I couldn't help myself... I'm really sorry, Your Excellency... If you don't like it, I'll stop looking..."

As expected, the clinging gaze vanished for the rest of the trip, but Ye Er's hand stayed on the emergency call button until the hovercar came to a smooth stop at the hospital entrance.

The female zerg got out first, opened the door for him, and said respectfully, "We've arrived, Your Excellency."

Ye Er said nothing. He unbuckled his seat belt and got out of the car, walking straight into the hospital.

"I'm really sorry, Your Excellency."

The voice came from behind, carrying a strangely gloomy smile. "But I'll probably be the one to pick you up next time."

Ye Er said nothing and walked toward Elaine, who stood at the hospital entrance to greet him. Before the female zerg could smile, he said coldly, "Replace this driver immediately."

He didn't even avoid the driver who hadn't left yet. His voice, slightly low, was cold and sharp.

Elaine was stunned and instinctively wanted to ask why.

But the moment he met the male zerg's gaze, he realized that Ye Er wasn't consulting him but simply informing him of a decision already made.

He nodded respectfully and said in a low voice, "Of course, if that's what you want."

After the unpleasant incident the male zerg had just gone through, Elaine was very cautious the whole way.

He was afraid that if the male zerg was unhappy, he would pull out of the agreement, which would be a real disaster*.

*An idiom: so frustrated or sad one can't even cry

But in fact, that episode didn't affect Ye Er's efficiency. In less than ten minutes, the extraction was done, and after leaving the collection room he was invited into the VIP lounge.

"The female zerg's examination reports are all in. I'll call the doctor to give you a specialized explanation."

Elaine, delighted to have the pheromones at last, woke his terminal and called the zerg who had been waiting outside.

"At the moment, your female zerg's condition isn't too optimistic." The attending physician handed the examination reports to Ye Er.

"You mentioned that his eyes have healed somewhat. That was much faster than we expected, which proves his damaged self-healing ability is gradually recovering. It's excellent news for further treatment."

"However, the female zerg's leg bones are dislocated, and one of his kneecaps is perforated. He may need surgery, but before that, we need to assess the condition of his legs further and rehabilitate them to the point where surgery is possible."

The doctor watched Ye Er's face. Seeing that he had nothing to say, he went on.

"As for the bone wings on his back, there's really nothing we can do. There have been cases of bone wing regeneration, but those were typically broken or damaged wings, which is a far cry from being completely uprooted."

Ye Er looked over the reports, his brow slightly knitted.

Elaine sighed. "If only there were a treatment cabin. It heals wounds very quickly and leaves no lingering effects."

"But treatment cabins are so pricey that you could buy ten hospitals like ours for the cost. There's no way to get one... so we'll have to treat him slowly."

Ye Er lowered his eyes thoughtfully and hummed. "Go on."

An hour and a half later, the doctors who had come in one after another began to leave and return to their posts.

"Would Your Excellency like to stay for lunch? If not, I can drive you back..."

Compared to the grand, imposing way male zergs were usually received on the Main Planet, this was crude and blunt in the extreme, and Elaine felt a strange guilt and unease.

He tried to make amends in various ways. "Or I can just see you to the entrance."

Ye Er lowered his eyes, put on his mask, and casually waved a hand to stop Elaine, who was trying to follow.

Instead of leaving the hospital, he walked slowly along the corridor.

It had been a few days since his last visit, and most of the military females had been settled properly, no longer crowded in corridors covered in blood as before.

He passed by that same ward from last time without thinking and looked through the narrow window set in the door. There were no military females inside, probably because they had all gone to lunch.

Just as Ye Er was about to look away, a faint thud came from inside. He instinctively looked toward the source—

And met a pair of sea-blue eyes.

 TOC