Chairman Croney’s first reaction was disbelief—it was impossible. The locks on the house were all intact, and the security system hadn’t been triggered. How could a thief possibly get in so easily? He quickly headed upstairs, thinking it might be Laimi and Laixing bringing friends home, and decided to check out the situation.
By that time, Sanya had already heard the sound of a spacecraft landing in the yard. He told You Que to stay in the room and not move for now, then went to open the door himself—only to unexpectedly run into Chairman Croney coming upstairs.
“Father!”
When Croney heard that voice, his steps faltered, and he thought he must be hallucinating. Startled, he looked up, only to see a familiar figure standing in the corridor. Gray hair and silver eyes—it was none other than his eldest son, who had been missing without a trace for years.
“Sanya?!”
Croney was so shocked that he stumbled, nearly missing a step and falling. Seeing this, Sanya quickly stepped forward to steady him, only for Chairman Croney to grab him tightly in return. His voice trembled as he asked, “Sanya, when… When did you come back?! Weren’t you…”
Ever since Sanya fled the South, there had been no news of him. Chairman Croney had once assumed he was dead. Now, to have him suddenly appear at home—it was nothing short of shocking.
Sanya steadied Chairman Croney, noticing that his father looked much older and thinner than before. A wave of bitterness rose in his throat, and his voice came out slightly hoarse: “Father, let’s talk inside.”
You Que remained in the room, hearing only the faint sound of a door closing next door. It was clear that Sanya and Chairman Croney had gone into the study to talk. After such a long time apart, they undoubtedly had private matters to discuss. It wouldn’t be appropriate for him to intrude.
“Father, I’m sorry. I’ve dragged you all into this.”
As Sanya stepped into the room, he bent his knees and knelt directly before Chairman Croney. His back was straight, much like it had always been, but now there was a new air of quiet determination and stubbornness about him.
Sanya still didn’t regret what he had done back then. The only thing he regretted was implicating his family. If it had been any other female zerg, they might have endured the humiliation of having their wings forcibly removed and quietly moved on. But Sanya was not that kind of zerg. He would rather go down fighting, even at the risk of mutual destruction, than swallow his anger and accept such an insult.
Chairman Croney sank wearily into the sofa. He couldn’t bring himself to blame Sanya, yet he was equally helpless in the face of the family’s current struggles. Reaching out, he grasped Sanya’s shoulders, only to feel how much thinner his son had become. As his fingers moved slightly farther back, he could faintly feel the hollow where his wing bones used to be, which only deepened his sorrow. “What happened back then wasn’t your fault. There’s no such thing as dragging us down. But you’re still carrying that criminal record. Coming back now is too dangerous…”
Hearing this, Sanya shook his head slightly, his reddened eyes glistening. He explained in a hoarse voice how he had been pardoned during his time in the northern region. Burying his face against Chairman Croney’s knees, he murmured, “Father, my record is clean now. I came back to the South this time first to visit Dad, and second to take care of you both. I won’t leave you again. Never.”
When Chairman Croney heard Sanya say he had been pardoned in the northern region, a heavy weight finally lifted from his heart. He stood up from the sofa and knelt halfway on the floor, wrapping Sanya tightly in his arms. His palms brushed over the uneven scars on Sanya’s back, and a wave of anguish and regret surged through him. “It’s good that you’re back. It’s good that you’re back. From now on, we won’t provoke anyone. We’ll just close our doors and live our lives in peace…”
This was the cub he had raised with painstaking care, day and night, yet his wings had been cruelly stripped away by other nobles, treated like nothing more than a commodity. How could Chairman Croney not feel hatred? But they had no connections, no power. All they could do was keep their heads down and avoid trouble.
Hearing this, Sanya lifted his head to look at Chairman Croney. After a brief moment of hesitation, he suddenly spoke: “Father, I brought a male zerg back with me from Saint Lieux. His name is You Que… I want him to be my partner.”
Chairman Croney was startled and blurted out in surprise, “A male zerg?!”
Caught completely off guard by the revelation, he stammered, “What male zerg? Are you two already married?”
Sanya looked a bit embarrassed. “No, we’re not married. We met in Saint Lieux. He doesn’t have any relatives there, so I brought him back to the South with me.”
Chairman Croney had heard of Saint Lieux before—it was a remote border town in the western region. Most of the residents there were impoverished, and male zergs were even rarer, often of poor quality when they did appear.
A vague sense of foreboding crept into Chairman Croney’s heart. “What’s that male’s blood purity level?”
Sanya hesitated for a moment. “…26%.”
Chairman Croney furrowed his brow. “You’re an A-class female zerg. His blood purity is under 30%. How are you going to manage your mental stability, or get through your heat cycle?”
But Sanya replied firmly, “I can endure it myself.”
Sanya gripped Chairman Croney’s hand tightly and softly repeated, with serious conviction, “Father, I can endure it. Before I met him, I managed on my own. Whether or not I can have my psychic state calmed doesn’t matter to me anymore. No hardship will ever be worse than when they forcibly took my wings.”
Sanya closed his eyes and lowered his head, gently leaning against Chairman Croney’s shoulder.
“Father, he’s really a good zerg, and I like him very much,”
He spoke softly, his voice filled with sincerity. “I beg you… please love him as much as you love me…”
Chairman Croney thought to himself that if Sanya’s future hadn’t been ruined, he would still be a major in the military, and finding a noble male zerg with a high blood purity wouldn’t have been difficult. But now, with his criminal record and wings taken away, he was no longer a noble—he feared even a commoner might not want a female zerg like him.
Finding a partner in a poor town like Saint Lieux must have been a last resort for Sanya.
Chairman Croney felt a deep pang of sympathy as he realized the truth. He gently stroked the back of Sanya’s head, and a wave of helplessness washed over him. He sighed deeply, his voice heavy with resignation: “Alright, 26%… it’s fine. Our family may have fallen, but we’re still a hundred times better than Saint Lieux. We’ll take good care of him, and out of respect, that male zerg will treat you well.”
Sanya furrowed his brow slightly. “Father, he’s not that kind of zerg…”
But Chairman Croney released Sanya and patted him on the shoulder. “Alright, enough. Where is that male zerg? Take me to meet him.”
…
This was You Que’s first time meeting Sanya’s father. Sitting on the living room sofa was a female zerg whose age was hard to gauge. He wore the dark blue uniform of the noble house, adorned with a golden emblem. His features resembled Sanya’s to some extent, though his expression was more serious and composed. His silver-gray hair was kept short, giving off an aura of aloofness, making him seem difficult to approach—
But no matter how aloof he seemed, he was certainly easier to deal with than You Que’s cruel stepmother.
You Que politely nodded. “Uncle, hello. My name is You Que. I heard that Lord Russell was ill and hospitalized recently, so Sanya and I hurried back to the south to visit. I hope we’re not disturbing you too much.”
As You Que secretly observed Chairman Croney, Croney was also discreetly studying You Que, unable to hide his surprise.
He had heard from Sanya that You Que was from Saint Lieux, with low blood purity, and he had expected him to be a rustic male zerg. He hadn’t placed much hope in his appearance or height—just hoping he wouldn’t be too unpleasant to look at. But to his surprise, You Que was the complete opposite of what Croney had imagined.
In contrast to the delicate and soft beauty of the southern region, You Que’s features were stark and rugged, but there was a unique appeal to him. His tall, slender build was rare among male zergs, and his well-groomed appearance, paired with his clear and articulate speech, made him easily stand out, surpassing 99% of the male zergs from the region.
Chairman Croney paused for a moment, caught off guard, before regaining his composure. He stood up from the sofa and gave You Que the proper respect due to a male zerg. “Your Excellency, you’re too polite. It’s our honor that you would travel such a long distance to visit. Please make yourself at home here. If there’s anything you need, don’t hesitate to let us know.”
You Que replied, “You’re Sanya’s father and my elder, so you can just call me by my name.”
You Que’s tone was formal and respectful. While Chairman Croney had initially felt some reluctance, he was now left with only a fraction of that feeling. His stern face softened, and a rare smile appeared. “In that case, I’ll call you by your name. However, Lord Russell is still in the hospital, and it’s getting late today. Tomorrow, I’ll take you both to visit him.”
Chairman Croney had originally planned to cook at home, but with You Que’s sudden arrival as a “distinguished guest,” he quickly changed his mind and made a reservation for dinner at a hotel. He also sent a message to Laimi and Laixing, urging them to hurry home.
Laimi and Laixing were twins, both eighteen years old, and had been serving in the military for three years. They currently hold the rank of second lieutenant. Normally, they would have been promoted to first lieutenant by now, but due to the family’s suppression, their advancement had been delayed.
Upon receiving the message from their father, Laimi and Laixing rushed back home. When they saw Sanya, whom they hadn’t heard from in so long, they were overwhelmed with both shock and joy. They embraced him tightly, crying until their emotions finally settled.
Laimi choked on his words, “Big Brother, now that you’re back, don’t leave again. Both Dad and I have missed you so much.”
Laixing was also wiping away his tears as he leaned on Laimi’s shoulder. “Yeah, Dad missed you so much he ended up in the hospital. While he was unconscious, he kept calling your name. If he knew you were back, he’d be so happy.”
Sanya was much older than these two brothers, and with his cold, aloof personality, he often found them too noisy when they were younger, making it difficult for them to play together. But despite the distance between them, the bond of blood ran deep, and the affection they shared was genuine.
Sanya couldn’t find the right comforting words, so he simply patted Laimi and Laixing’s backs, his voice softening with each word. “It’s alright, it’s all in the past now. I won’t leave again… By the way, let me introduce you to someone, a distinguished guest.”
As he spoke, he turned to look at You Que, who was quietly sitting on the sofa. He gestured for him to come over. Laimi and Laixing, who had been entirely focused on Sanya as they entered, only now noticed the handsome male zerg sitting in the living room. Both were surprised and a little embarrassed, their faces flushing bright red.
Laimi hesitated before speaking, “Big Brother, this distinguished guest is…?”
Laixing hid behind Laimi, his gaze wary as he looked at You Que.
Ever since the incident with Sanya, they had become particularly cautious around male zergs. Apart from their father, they rarely encountered males, making the atmosphere in the house feel somewhat tense.
You Que, upon seeing the two young zergs, immediately guessed that they were Sanya’s younger brothers. His usually cold gaze softened for a moment, and he gave a gentle smile. “Hello, I’m You Que, Sanya’s…”
He hesitated for a moment before choosing a more appropriate term. “Fiancé.”
They were just one step away from marriage, but hadn’t had the chance to wed yet—so fiancé it was.
Sanya, upon hearing this, glanced at You Que, feeling an unexpected warmth on his face. However, he didn’t refute the statement. He turned to Laimi and Laixing, explaining, “You Que and I just arrived in the south today. For now, we might stay here temporarily. Once everything is settled, we’ll move out.”
Laimi and Laixing instantly understood. So, the male zerg in front of them was their older brother’s male lord. Both of them felt a bit nervous and uneasy, knowing that male zergs were usually hard to please. They forced a smile and said, “Of course, that’s fine. The house hasn’t been this lively in a while. Since you just got back, there’s no rush to move out. It would be nice if you stayed a bit longer.”
Sanya saw the uneasy expressions on his two younger brothers and wanted to explain, but felt it wasn’t the right time. He could only say, “You don’t have to worry. Things will stay the same as they were before.”
Laimi and Laixing clearly couldn’t do that.
At dinner, they sat at the table, feeling somewhat awkward. They lowered their heads to eat, occasionally glancing at You Que across from them.
You Que appeared distant at first glance, but surprisingly had a good temperament. No matter what Chairman Croney asked, he answered nearly every question, and every now and then, he would serve Sanya some food, showing clear intimacy between them.
Seeing this, Chairman Croney felt a weight lift off his chest. After a moment, he seemed to remember something and spoke up, “There are three guest rooms in the house. Will you two be staying together tonight, or…?” He paused. “If you’ll be staying separately, we’ll need to prepare one of the rooms.”
This was not a question You Que could easily answer.
Sanya, feeling the gazes of his younger brothers, remained unfazed and said calmly, “There’s no need to trouble yourself. He and I will share a room.”
Chairman Croney awkwardly nodded, “Well… that’s fine.”
According to their family’s rules, it was typically not allowed for an unmarried couple to share a room, but the circumstances had changed this year. Given Sanya’s situation, it seemed that adhering to tradition wasn’t as important anymore.
After dinner, they each returned to their rooms to rest. Laimi and Laixing locked their doors tightly, not daring to step outside.
Sanya went to his room, pulled out the bedclothes, and quickly tidied up the bed. He explained to You Que, “Laimi and Laixing are a bit shy. They don’t like talking in front of strangers, so don’t take it to heart.”
You Que, who was helping to put on the pillowcase, raised a hand to touch his face at the comment. “If you hadn’t said anything, I’d have thought it was my face that’s too frightening, making them too scared of humans.”
Sanya heard a strange word and asked, “Scared of what?”
You Que paused for a brief moment, almost imperceptibly, before responding, “Scared of zergs.”
Sanya assumed You Que was joking. He walked over to him and kissed his deep, dark eyes. “If you looked like something that could scare zergs, no male in the South would dare to leave their house. Don’t worry, Laimi and Laixing are just…”
He paused for a moment before continuing, “They’re just shaken by what happened to me back then, so they get a bit nervous around males.”
When You Que heard Sanya mention that incident, his gaze slowly turned cold, though his face showed no signs of it. He reached out and gently pulled Sanya into his embrace. His warm hand slipped under the hem of Sanya’s clothes, but only lingered at the area of his shoulder blades, moving slowly.
He hadn’t noticed before, but now, as his fingers traced the area, he discovered an abnormal depression just below Sanya’s shoulder blades. It must have been where the wing bones were removed.
When he had first heard about this incident in the bathroom, there was an indescribable anger that rose within him. Even now, that anger still simmered beneath the surface, though he concealed it well, making sure Sanya didn’t notice.
Sanya melted in You Que’s embrace, his eyes half-closed as he struggled to avoid the kisses falling from the male’s lips. His silver-gray hair gleamed softly in the light, even more delicate than silk. “Don’t… don’t touch me…”
You Que pinned him against the wall, kissing him. Upon hearing his words, he slowly stopped. “Does it hurt?”
Sanya thought to himself that it wasn’t a matter of pain. He yanked You Que’s hand out from under his clothes, smiling faintly, and asked, “Aren’t you afraid of being caught by my father?”
Sanya usually had a bold demeanor, but when he was back on his home turf, he became more restrained.
You Que, however, was fearless. He tilted his head and nipped at Sanya’s earlobe, his voice low and muffled. “He’s already let us share a room. Do you think I’m afraid?”
Support me on ko-fi for more additional updates~ ʚ(´꒳`)ɞ
![He Lived Like You [End of the World]](https://www.freenovels.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/HLLY.jpg "He Lived Like You [End of the World]")
