APUTFFZG Chapter 35.1

Translator: Deyonna

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His vision and legs had recovered, but the hospital was still stumped about his bone wings. For now, they could only set that aside and focus on treating the female zerg's various internal injuries.

Ye Er wasn't in a hurry. The only thing he insisted on was taking Xi Ze to Xie Zhao for regular psychological treatment.

He hadn't had high hopes at first, but after a few sessions with the psychiatrist, the female zerg's mental state had visibly improved.

Xie Zhao, on the other hand, looked withered after several treatments. There were dark circles under his eyes, and his once-sunny curly hair drooped listlessly.

"What kind of elixir did he give you?" Ye Er joked. "No, I should say he must have used a soul-shifting technique*."

*One of those terms from xianxia novels

"Away from painful torments and with plenty of rest, mental health will slowly improve," Xi Ze said, his eyes curving. He didn't ask what a soul-shifting technique was.

As he got to know him better, Xi Ze had noticed that the male zerg occasionally said strange, unfamiliar things that didn't sound like the local language. But everyone had secrets, and since the male zerg never volunteered anything, he would never pry.

Ye Er had been busy ever since the surgery. He had promised to set up a visit once he had time but never found the chance, and it was almost the end of the year before he finished everything he had been busy with.

"Your female zerg's third-stage treatment has only two sessions left, and then it'll be over. After the New Year, the hospital will discuss a new plan."

"Also, Alvin's injuries have improved greatly, and he can stand for a while now. The military females in the hospital who benefited from the pheromones keep saying they want to thank you in person..."

The living room television was connected to the terminal and showed a half-length projection of Elaine, who was reporting the latest news from the hospital. The background looked like a hospital corridor, and faint breathing could be heard nearby.

Ye Er closed the book in his hand and tossed it onto the coffee table before opening a new one. At those words, he glanced at the television.

"I don't have much on today, so we'll come by after breakfast."

Elaine hadn't meant to rush him, but he clearly hadn't expected the male zerg to be so accommodating. He was taken aback for a moment, and the sound of his breathing coming through the call grew much more ragged, as if he were trying to suppress his excitement.

Ye Er flipped through the book and asked casually, "What's that noise on your end?"

"Oh, nothing, nothing! All right, then. If it's not too much trouble, could you let me know when you're on your way?"

Elaine's voice was brisk without being disrespectful, with less pretense than before. Even the smile in his eyes seemed more genuine.

"All right, that's settled. I won't disturb you anymore. See you later."

The projection went off. Ye Er tilted his head in thought for a moment, gathered the materials on the coffee table, and stood up to knock on the bathroom door.

Xi Ze's training for the day was over, and he had been in there for quite a while. After Ye Er knocked, clothes rustled inside.

Xi Ze's voice came through the foggy steam, a bit distorted. "Is that you, 015? What's the matter?"

Before Ye Er could respond, the bathroom door was suddenly pulled open. A broad expanse of pale honey-colored skin burst into view, and moist steam hit his face. "What is it...?"

Ye Er blinked.

The female zerg stood before him with one hand braced against the door frame and the other running a towel through his disheveled wet hair. He seemed to have come out of the shower halfway through, wearing only a loose pair of pajama pants, his strong, muscular upper body completely bare.

Because of their height difference, Xi Ze's chest, as springy and plump as a water balloon, was right at Ye Er's eye level. Water droplets that hadn't dried yet slid slowly down its curves.

Xi Ze looked down and met Ye Er's gaze, clearly just as stunned. "Male... Male Lord...?"

His manner immediately turned more reserved. His expression looked complicated and embarrassed, and his grip on the towel tightened.

"Is there... something you want to tell me, Male Lord?"

Ye Er didn't answer. For some reason, he didn't come out and say it, and instead watched Xi Ze guess hesitantly.

Xi Ze glanced at Ye Er's interested expression and pulled the big towel off his hair, revealing a fluffy head that looked like honey-glazed toast.

"Male Lord... would you like to touch this?"

The words were so direct that Ye Er looked surprised. "What?"

Wrong again, it seemed.

Xi Ze sighed inwardly but pressed on. "After all, you said spiritual support was enough for you, but maybe sometimes you want to try something physical too."

He hadn't forgotten what the male zerg had said before about "spiritual support."

There were also hugely popular nurture games among the zerg. He hadn't known much about them before, but he had seen plenty of comments saying the characters were beautiful and cute and wishing the paper zerg characters would come to life so they could do this and that with them.

Before, the male zerg had clearly liked touching his hair, pinching him here and poking him there, and when he got a little more carried away, he would hug him.

But later it had gradually tapered off. Lately, apart from the routine mental guidance, there had been no physical contact at all.

And... he couldn't shake the feeling that ever since that accident*, the male zerg had been avoiding him.

*The kiss accident

Xi Ze looked innocently at the male zerg standing in front of him, his lips pursed.

Ye Er finally reacted.

It had been so long since Xi Ze's frankness on this front had caught him off guard that he had almost forgotten how open zergs were. He coughed lightly to cover his awkward expression.

"Don't overthink it. I just wanted to tell you that we're going to the hospital after breakfast."

Xi Ze nodded to show he understood, but he was still a little absentminded and didn't notice the water droplets falling from his hair onto his eyelashes.

Ye Er waved a hand to bring him back to his senses and asked point-blank, "Is there anything you want to ask me?"

Xi Ze was silent for a moment, then looked up at him carefully, his voice very light. "Male Lord, why don't you... touch me anymore?"

At Ye Er's stunned look, he glanced away for a moment and explained softly.

"Like before, in the bathroom, in the living room... you liked touching my hair, pinching my ears, and so on, uh... I mean..."

The more he spoke, the more absurd he felt, and his voice grew lower and lower until he stopped.

"Ah."

Only after hearing the explanation did Ye Er understand what Xi Ze had really been worried about. He felt a little helpless and a little amused.

Before, he hadn't yet adjusted his mindset, and the way he had treated Xi Ze was... how to put it, a bit casual.

But later it had occurred to him that his mischievous fun might come across as unpleasant harassment to Xi Ze, so he had been holding himself back from poking him.

So he didn't actually hate it.

Ye Er smiled as he looked at the female zerg's stiff expression, which could hardly hide his disappointment. The fingers of the hand hanging at his side curled without his noticing.

“I'm sorry, I overstepped. You don't have to…” give it much thought.

Before Xi Ze could force out the rest, a shadow suddenly fell over his eyes, and a warm touch landed on his forehead between his brows.

Ye Er reached out and slid his fingers into the female zerg's damp hair, smoothing back the drooping strands to reveal his deep, sharp brows and eyes.

His movements weren't careful, but they weren't rough either. His fingertips glided over the sensitive roots of Xi Ze's hair and behind his ears, circling and kneading those spots with familiarity, stroking him over and over.

Only when he noticed the corners of Xi Ze's eyes reddening and his breathing turning ragged did he finally stop.

Ye Er stepped closer, his warm breath brushing Xi Ze's ear, which was so red it looked ready to bleed. A mischievous glint sparkled in his eyes. "This kind of touch?"

Xi Ze could hear only his own heart pounding, slamming against his chest with unusual force, roaring in chaos along with the rushing blood.

He even suspected it was loud enough for the male zerg to hear.

In the stillness, which felt almost frozen, a sudden rip broke the silence.

Ye Er paused and stepped back to put some distance between them, only to find a large tear in the towel Xi Ze was holding, which looked quite tragic.*

*The death scene was extremely miserable

Xi Ze finally came back to his senses, his neck and chest flushing light red, as if he were burning all over.

It was a bit cute.

Ye Er cleared his throat. "Anyway, hurry up and finish. We'll head out after breakfast... You can get back to your shower now."

Xi Ze opened and closed his mouth a few times as if to explain but ultimately gave only a short reply.

"Yes, Male Lord."

---

After breakfast, Ye Er rummaged through a messy pile of clothes on the sofa, pulled out a full set of outdoor clothes including a long black coat, and handed it to the female zerg. "Here."

"You needed a wheelchair last time we went out, but you won't need it this time. I bought you a new long coat, so give it a try."

Xi Ze thanked him and went to the bathroom to change. When he came out, he found that Ye Er had already changed too.

Ye Er seemed particularly fond of long white down jackets, and they suited him well.

The jacket was puffy but didn't look bulky. The fluffy white hood set off his dark eyes in a striking contrast that took nothing away from his elegance. If anything, it made him look even more uniquely beautiful, unlike anyone else in the world.

Xi Ze took a breath and paused. He took from 015 the scarf Ye Er was to wear. When Ye Er glanced over, he whispered, "Shall I help Male Lord put it on?"

Ye Er didn't mind either way and lifted his chin slightly to let him, baring a slender neck so pale that faint blue veins showed beneath the skin, soft and fragile.

Xi Ze gently wrapped the warm, fluffy scarf around Ye Er's neck, his fingertips brushing the bobbing Adam's apple without Ye Er noticing. Finally he tucked the end of the scarf into the down jacket.

"All done."

He lowered his gaze to Ye Er and adjusted the jacket's collar, a smile at the corner of his lips. "Do you need help with your gloves?"

After some dawdling and small talk, they finally set out half an hour later.

---

"Passengers, please fasten your seat belts. We are about to depart. The star map will provide updates along the way..."

The announcement button clicked off, and a familiar female zerg turned around in the driver's seat, smiling at Ye Er in the back.

"Good morning, Your Excellency."

Ye Er's pupils shrank, and his voice turned a bit cold. "Why is it you again?"

The driver gave a hollow laugh. "My colleague was supposed to pick you up today, but something came up at the last minute, so I'm covering for him."

Ye Er considered getting out of the car at once, but this time he noticed none of the gloomy, chilling, prying gaze from before. Besides, with Xi Ze beside him, he didn't need to worry too much.

Rather than avoid him again, it was better to find out what this female zerg really intended to do.

He took his hand off the car door and said curtly, "Drive."

"Male Lord, seat belt."

Xi Ze leaned over, his tall frame blocking most of the view. After he had fastened Ye Er's seat belt and sat back, the driver had already looked away.

Then something nudged his hand, resting beside him. Ye Er pulled back his scrutinizing gaze and looked at Xi Ze next to him, silently asking what was wrong.

Xi Ze didn't respond. He only smiled slightly, which somehow eased the unease bubbling up in Ye Er's heart.

Fortunately, the trip was smooth, and they reached the hospital's back entrance without incident. Elaine was waiting there and hurried over the moment the hovercar doors opened.

As Ye Er opened the door to get out, the silent driver suddenly spoke. "Your Excellency, watch your step."

That sticky feeling of being watched came back, but before Ye Er could look up, Xi Ze caught his wrist and deftly helped him out of the car.

The tall military female wrapped Ye Er in a half embrace, like an indomitable city wall, shielding him from the malicious gaze behind them.

"Don't worry."

Xi Ze lowered his gaze, his steady, strong fingers resting gently on Ye Er's shoulder. His voice was soft and calm. "No one will be able to get close enough... to hurt you."

☰