When You Que was waiting for the elevator downstairs at the hospital, Sanya was already in the ward accompanying Russell. He poured a cup of warm water and handed it to Russell, then sat by the bed and spoke with him, softly explaining why You Que wasn’t present:
“Dad, it’s his first time in the southern region, so he’s not very familiar with the area. I told him earlier not to go, but he insisted on buying something for you. I’m guessing he’ll be back soon…”
Chairman Croney, seated nearby, chimed in after hearing this: “My lord, though this male zerg comes from the small town of Saint Lieux, he’s quite handsome, has a good personality, and seems like a great match for Sanya.”
Russell had not yet recovered from the joy of his eldest son’s return when he was caught off guard by the news that another male was about to join the family. Holding the warm cup in his hands, he frowned and shot Croney a glance, clearly displeased at how hastily his partner had decided on Sanya’s marriage:
“Handsome? Can being handsome fill a stomach? That male is a complete stranger. How can you dare let him live with Sanya?”
Russell, usually mild-mannered and rarely one to scold his partner, rarely raised his voice. Croney, hearing this, had no retort, though a thought crossed his mind: Why can’t being handsome fill a stomach? Just last night, with a handsome male sitting across the dinner table, I ate half a bowl more than usual.
Croney said, “My lord, they’re about to become partners. We can’t very well let His Excellency live outside. There are a few vacant properties in Districts Three and Six, but Sanya has just returned. I can’t bear to let him move out.”
Sanya, who had been silent on the side, responded with an unexpectedly calm tone: “Dad, wherever he goes, I’ll go with him.”
If Russell truly couldn’t accept having another male in the house, then Sanya would simply move out with You Que when the time came. After all, he hadn’t brought You Que all the way to the South just to leave him stranded and alone.
Russell’s frustration deepened upon hearing this. He set the cup in his hand down on the table with a loud thud. “You’re not even married to him yet, and already you’re siding with an outsider?”
Sanya lowered his gaze, his demeanor respectful but unyielding. “Dad, the partner I’ve chosen won’t change. I hope you’ll treat him kindly.”
As they spoke, a soft knock sounded from the outer room, steady and unhurried—three knocks, then silence.
“Knock, knock, knock—”
Hearing the sound, Sanya quickly went to open the door. As expected, he found You Que standing outside with a bag of fruit in hand. His expression relaxed slightly as he subtly gestured inside. “Come in. I know you’re not familiar with the area, but don’t go wandering so far next time.”
You Que glanced inside but decided against mentioning that he had just run into a fellow townsman outside. Carrying the bag of fruit, he stepped into the room, politely nodding at Croney before turning to Russell. “Uncle, I apologize for being late. I got delayed on the way. I hope you won’t hold it against me.”
After speaking, You Que placed the bag of fruit on the bedside table. “I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I just bought some fruit at random.”
Russell was momentarily taken aback when You Que entered the room. His partner had been trying to prepare him mentally, saying things like how this male came from some remote and impoverished area, and how his blood purity wasn’t particularly high. Naturally, Russell hadn’t set his expectations very high for You Que.
But now, seeing him personally, the reality was quite different from what he had imagined. The male before him was strikingly handsome, dressed in a well-fitted, immaculate suit, and exuded an air of politeness and refinement. It completely upended the image Russell had built in his mind.
Russell’s surprise lasted only a moment before he quickly composed himself. He maintained his poise, his attitude toward You Que neither overly warm nor impolite. “Thank you for going out of your way. Sanya, bring a chair for our guest.”
You Que smiled lightly. “It’s no trouble. You’re an elder; just call me You Que.”
Sanya brought over a chair and said to You Que, “Have a seat and rest for a while.”
You Que sat down as instructed, but he didn’t go out of his way to start a conversation with Sanya’s father. Unless an elder asked him something, he remained silent, quietly seated and focused on peeling fruit with a knife.
Skilled in craftsmanship, You Que’s hands moved deftly with the blade, carving away the fruit’s peel in smooth, thin spirals that fell in one unbroken strip, as delicate and beautiful as a flower.
He peeled three fruits in total, first handing one to Chairman Croney, then another to Lord Russell, and finally offering the last to Sanya.
This small gesture undoubtedly earned him some points. Even Chairman Croney’s stern face softened, showing a hint of a smile. Russell looked at the fruit in his hand, seemingly letting out a sigh. In the end, he said nothing and ate it all without complaint, showing courtesy.
Not bad, Russell thought to himself. This male isn’t as terrible as I had imagined. Setting aside his background, he’s actually more capable than most of the males I’ve encountered in the South.
Sanya had already been left with his wings removed, a half-disabled state, and finding another male was no easy task. Rather than settling for less, it was better to let him choose someone he truly liked.
Overall, the visit to the hospital had gone smoothly. By the end, Russell had not brought up the matter of You Que moving out, tacitly accepting the current living arrangement between him and Sanya.
That evening, as they returned home, the heavy weight in Sanya’s heart finally lifted. After finishing his shower, he emerged from the bathroom and saw You Que lying on the bed reading a book. He glanced at it briefly. “A dictionary? What are you reading that for?”
You Que couldn’t exactly admit that he hadn’t fully learned the Zerg language; that would be too embarrassing. He quickly took the dictionary from Sanya’s hands and tucked it away into the bedside table. “It’s nothing, just browsing. Your dad will be discharged tomorrow. Should I go help out?”
Sanya sat down on the edge of the bed, his white bathrobe loosely draped, revealing a hint of his well-toned chest. “No need. My father will pick him up. I won’t be home tomorrow, so just stay here and get along with them.”
You Que glanced at him in confusion. “You won’t be home? Where are you going?”
Sanya didn’t want to elaborate further. “Your ID still hasn’t been processed, right? Tomorrow, I’ll go to the military and find a friend. I’ll figure out a way to get your ID sorted.”
Given Sanya’s solitary nature, he wasn’t particularly eager to get involved with his old friends, but You Que’s identity was a major issue that had to be resolved.
You Que hadn’t expected Sanya to still be thinking about his situation. He sat up straight on the bed, reaching out to gently touch Sanya’s half-wet hair. For a moment, he wasn’t sure what to feel. “When you killed that male… even if your records are cleared, there are bound to be many who are still watching you in the shadows. You shouldn’t go to the military. I’ve only just come to the South, and we’ll deal with the identity issue later.”
Sanya frowned and looked at You Que. “If your ID can’t be processed, how are we supposed to get married?”
You Que was momentarily stunned by the question, then, realizing the implication, couldn’t help but chuckle softly. “So, you’re in such a hurry to get my ID sorted just for that reason?”
Sanya awkwardly shifted his gaze away. “Well, sort of… but not really.”
Though there was an element of marriage involved, Sanya was more concerned about making things easier for You Que in the future. A marriage certificate was just a formality—it wouldn’t change the fact that he and You Que were already together.
You Que wanted to say that it wasn’t urgent; he had already asked Ah Sui to help test his blood purity. However, after some thought, he decided not to bring it up.
Sanya dried his hair and climbed into bed. Before he could settle down, he was pulled into You Que’s embrace. Without saying anything else, You Que buried his face in the dark and kissed the back of his neck, where a silver zerg pattern marked his skin.
Sanya only felt a mix of tingling discomfort, his face quickly turning red. His long, slender brows furrowed slightly, clearly irritated by You Que’s habit of igniting sparks everywhere. “Mmm… stop…”
His breathing grew erratic for a moment, and he struggled to push You Que away. “You’re not marking me… stop kissing me…”
Every time, it was him who ended up feeling uncomfortable afterward.
Sanya had once enjoyed being close to You Que, but perhaps due to the long-standing emptiness that had yet to be filled, that sense of void had grown increasingly stronger.
You Que didn’t stop. He kissed the lobe of Sanya’s ear, his breath warm against Sanya’s neck as he teasingly said, “How about I mark you now? That way, I’ll be stuck with you forever.”
Sanya, struggling to maintain a shred of rationality, turned to look at him, his tone sharp and displeased. “Stuck? What’s there to be stuck with? If you try, I’ll kill you!”
You Que raised an eyebrow at Sanya’s words, mildly surprised by his harsh tone. But with Sanya blushing and breathless, it didn’t seem all that intimidating. “Who are you going to kill?”
The moment the words left Sanya’s mouth, he regretted them. After all, he had killed a male before—what if You Que took him seriously? He turned around to face You Que, and seeing him silent, he lowered his gaze and gently kissed him. “How could I ever bring myself to kill you?”
Sanya spoke the truth—no matter what happened, even if the day came, he certainly wouldn’t be able to bring himself to go through with it.
It was rare for You Que to see Sanya soften, and a playful spark flickered in his heart. “Are you sure?”
Sanya nodded seriously. “I’m sure.”
You Que gently lifted Sanya’s chin with his fingertips, his deep voice carrying a certain restrained emotion. “Then should I still kiss you?”
Sanya’s face flushed even more at the question, but he didn’t pull away. He removed his bathrobe, revealing the zerg markings on the back of his neck, then obediently lay down on the bed, presenting himself as though ready to be at the other’s mercy.
He expected You Que to kiss his neck, but instead, the heated kiss landed directly on his shoulder blade, soft and tender, as though You Que was kissing the wings that no longer existed.
“Mmm…”
Sanya let out a soft, muffled groan, fighting the instinct to struggle. He closed his eyes, furrowing his brows, unable to tell whether the sensation was uncomfortable or pleasurable. Every inch of his skin seemed to tremble with anticipation.
It was a feeling completely different from anything he had experienced before.
Now that You Que understood the origin of these scars, he knew how much Sanya had suffered. His kisses became more reverent, as if trying to smooth out the uneven, painful marks left behind.
Looking back, Sanya still didn’t know how he had endured that long period of healing. All he remembered was the constant pain and the scent of blood, with all the bitterness pouring into his heart.
Sanya turned around in the darkness, reaching out to wrap his arms around You Que’s neck. He kissed him forcefully, deeply, until the taste of blood filled his mouth. Only then did he slowly pull away, savoring the lingering, bittersweet taste.
The long night stretched endlessly, filled with either bitterness or dryness, and all they could do was wait for dawn to arrive.
You Que still didn’t want Sanya to go to the military, but when he woke up early the next morning, the spot beside him was already empty. Clearly, Sanya had not listened to him.
Reluctantly, You Que got up, washed up, and casually changed into a new set of clothes before stepping out of the bedroom. He had originally planned to check the kitchen for something to eat, but when he went downstairs, he saw Laimi and Laixing busy in the kitchen, and breakfast had already been laid out on the table.
You Que paused when he saw the scene.
When Laimi came out holding the tray, he noticed You Que standing at the stairway and became a bit nervous. He pointed to the table and said, “Your Excellency, my older brother went out this morning for something, but he said he’ll be back by this afternoon… Breakfast is ready, you can eat.”
You Que felt a bit awkward. “Don’t you all need to go to the military?”
Laimi explained, “We have the day off today.”
You Que nodded and didn’t say anything further. He pulled out a chair and sat down at the dining table. He thought about going into the kitchen to help, but when he saw how Laimi and Laixing seemed so nervous and stumbled over their words upon seeing him, he quickly dismissed the idea.
Sanya was clearly a tough one, so why did he raise two brothers who acted like rabbits?
The breakfast was consumed in complete silence. It was clear that Laimi and Laixing had been raised with strict adherence to the Zerg code. They ate without a word, and not even the sound of silverware clinking broke the stillness—everything was done with the utmost propriety.
After finishing breakfast, before You Que could react, Laimi and Laixing took the initiative to clear the plates and headed to the kitchen to wash up, leaving him with no chance to intervene.
You Que…
You Que found himself with nothing to do and simply sat in the living room, watching a program for a while. When there was nothing pressing to occupy his mind, he tended to overthink, and as he sat on the sofa, watching the movie on the screen, he inexplicably started to imagine his life after retirement.
By that time, he should have already married Sanya, maybe even had a few offspring. Although You Que found it strange to have children with a female zerg that looked almost like a man, it was just how things worked in Salaranfa.
This state of idle thought continued until noon, when Chairman Croney brought Lord Russell back home from the hospital. When Laimi and Laixing saw them return, they clearly relaxed, their tension easing noticeably. Even their tone became a little more cheerful.
“Dad, have some hot water.”
“Father, let me give you a shoulder rub.”
Chairman Croney patted Laimi’s hand, genuinely appreciating the filial piety of these two young zergs. “Alright, I need to head back to work in the afternoon. Make sure you take good care of your dad while I’m gone… By the way, where is your older brother? I haven’t seen him.”
“Sanya had to go out for something, but he’ll be back in the afternoon.”
It was You Que who spoke.
Chairman Croney had a good impression of You Que. He nodded and said, “Sanya’s temperament is difficult to manage. Thank you for putting up with it.”
You Que gave a slight nod. “You’re too kind, Sanya is great.”
Chairman Croney mentioned that Sanya was difficult to manage, but naturally, he thought his own children were perfect in every way. Hearing You Que’s response, he smiled. “I’ve discussed it with the Lord. Once things settle down in a few days, we’ll arrange the wedding. But you know Sanya’s situation, so it’s best to keep things low-key…”
As soon as You Que heard this, he realized that Chairman Croney likely didn’t know he didn’t have an ID yet. He steeled himself and nodded, “It’s fine. Keeping it low-key is better.”
Chairman Croney seemed like he wanted to say more, but he still had to rush to the House of Nobles for work. After a few more words of advice, he grabbed his briefcase and hurriedly left.
At home, only Lord Russell, Laimi and Laixing, and You Que were left. The three of them, together in the same room, created an even more awkward atmosphere than before.
You Que initially planned to go upstairs to his room, but seeing Lord Russell reading on the sofa with Laimi and Laixing sitting beside him, he felt it would be impolite to leave. So, he ended up sitting next to them, continuing to watch the movie.
As the saying goes, if you’re not embarrassed, then the embarrassment falls on others.
Russell flipped a page of his book, noticing that You Que sat quietly beside him. He thought to himself that the young male was rather composed. However, Russell himself wasn’t much for conversation at home and didn’t know what to talk about, so he just continued reading in silence.
This odd yet harmonious atmosphere lasted until around three in the afternoon when a sudden ring of the doorbell shattered the calm.
“Guests are here! Guests are here!”
The round and plump robot vacuum made a soft whirring sound as it slid over to Russell, its display screen shifting to show the front door monitor. On the screen, a male zerg in black uniform was standing outside. It wasn’t immediately clear what his purpose was.
Laimi, noticing this, stiffened, his voice a bit frantic. “Dad, it’s the male zerg from the Marriage Agency!”
His face grew pale, and even Laixing’s expression darkened.
You Que didn’t know what was happening. He saw Russell frown and say, “You two, go upstairs to your rooms and don’t come down.”
Laimi and Laixing hesitated for a moment, then nodded and turned to head upstairs. Just as You Que was considering whether he should go up with them, he watched the elegant and easygoing Russell suddenly grab a vase from the table. He stood up, walked to the door, and threw it outside with a loud crash.
“Crash—!!”
The vase hit the ground with a sharp sound, the glass shards scattering everywhere. Luckily, the male zerg outside the door was quick to dodge, or he might have had his head cracked open.
You Que was stunned for a moment: “?!”
The male zerg took a few hurried steps back, his evasive movements practiced. He frantically shook the glass shards off his clothes, furious, and shouted, “Russell, you dare throw something at me?! Do you believe I’ll sue you to the Male Zerg Protection Association?!”
Russell, not knowing what grudge he had with the other zerg, looked furious, his usually composed and elegant face now ashen with anger. He sneered and pointed towards the garden outside, shouting, “Get out! We don’t welcome you here, and I’ll throw something at you every time you show up!”
You Que, still unsure of the situation, quietly stood up and moved behind Russell, prepared to step in should things escalate into a fight between the two zergs.
The male zerg outside took two steps back but did not leave. Instead, he pulled out a piece of paper from his briefcase, almost as if holding something of immense importance, making the paper rustle in his hand. “Russell, this is the marriage approval letter issued by the Marriage Distribution Bureau. Your two female offspring are of the right age for marriage and must accept the imperial arrangement…”
“Bang—!”
Before he could finish his sentence, Russell threw another vase, his hands trembling with anger. “Get out! Don’t think I don’t know you’re just a dog of the Marlon family. Even if my zerg cubs die, they will never marry that disgusting old male!”
The zerg outside the door briefly flashed a look of irritation, clearly furious and about to turn to leave. But suddenly remembering his mission, he forced a smile. “Russell, don’t speak so harshly. You’re lucky to have a pair of beautiful twin zerg offspring. Although Lord Marlon is a bit old, he’s well-respected in the South. What’s wrong with this marriage?”
“If you don’t comply with the Imperial marriage arrangement, your two zerg offspring will end up in prison. You’ve already had one offspring sent to jail; why send the other two there as well?”
The zerg outside, having spoken, kicked the shattered pieces of the vase aside and walked straight into the house. Russell, seemingly caught off guard by the situation, turned pale with a mix of anger and fear, but he did not attempt to stop him.
Standing to the side, You Que slowly realized that this zerg seemed to be mocking Sanya. He raised an eyebrow faintly, his expression unreadable, giving no hint as to what he was thinking.
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![The Rebirth of the Last Days and Return to [Fang] Hao](https://www.freenovels.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/image_2021-09-11_143139.png "The Rebirth of the Last Days and Return to [Fang] Hao")
The hell? Forced marriages are horrible and an old bull wants to force two tender grasses to marry him? Please someone kick him down a peg. And may someone also kick him down on the street every time he goes out.