Human desires are like the spark hidden within tobacco; once even the smallest sign appears, it can spread like wildfire.
You Que gripped the thin waist of Sanya, determined to show this female zerg a lesson. His kiss was fierce and restless, as if trying to devour him whole. Before long, the taste of blood was in the air.
Sanya, breathless from the kiss, felt his skin flush with a slight redness. He reached up to circle You Que’s neck, thinking to himself, What a restless one. Yesterday in the room, you were indifferent, but now you run off to some secluded corner to “sneak around.” What a strange habit.
Sanya lazily narrowed his eyes, tilting his head to bite You Que’s earlobe, deliberately whispering in his ear, “So, you like it outside…”
Before he could finish his sentence, his waist was tightened again, and he couldn’t help but let out a muffled groan.
You Que’s hand, after some hesitation, finally moved to the small of Sanya’s back. His fingertips brushed over the uneven scars that covered the area. This spot, especially sensitive for a female zerg, made Sanya’s face change immediately, and his body trembled uncontrollably for a moment.
You Que wrapped one arm around Sanya’s waist, while the other hand slowly caressed his back, sending waves of incredible itching through him. After a moment, he hoarsely asked, “Have the wounds from that day healed?”
The female zerg’s constitution is indeed tough.
Sanya’s back was covered with so many scars that a few minor cuts no longer hurt or itched. He used to care about them, but now, held gently in You Que’s embrace, he let down some of his guard. “Mm, it’ll be fine in a few days.”
He buried his face in You Que’s neck, his legs weakening from the pheromones radiating off the male zerg. He could see it, but couldn’t reach it. Laughing breathlessly, he asked, “You Que, you don’t mean to mark me here, do you?”
At the sound of this, You Que lowered his gaze and glared at Sanya, finding this female zerg exceptionally bold. “What, you want me to strip your pants off?”
Just a moment ago, when he had unbuttoned his shirt, Sanya had been so nervous. If his pants were actually removed, it would only be him crying.
“I didn’t say that.”
Sanya had only asked casually just now. If You Que really intended to mark him here, he wouldn’t have agreed. He would have felt disrespected, as if You Que saw him as nothing more than a plaything.
You Que had originally brought Sanya here to press him for answers, but to his surprise, he hadn’t gotten any answers. Instead, he had been tempted into breaking his restraint. His breathing was erratic, and after a moment of trying to calm himself, he finally released Sanya and raised his hand to help the female zerg straighten his disheveled clothes.
Sanya didn’t even need to look to know his clothes had gotten dirty. He brushed the dust off with his hand, frowning in a way that made it clear he was somewhat distressed. “I just put this on today, and you’ve already gotten it dirty.”
You Que fastened the buttons for him without raising his head, muttering, “If it’s dirty, then it’s dirty.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, he suddenly realized that Sanya was upset because the shirt was a gift from him. After a slight delay, he added, “Next time, I’ll buy you another one.”
Sanya gave a small smile, his lips curving slightly. “But I like the one you’re wearing.”
You Que glanced down at the shirt he was wearing, thinking it was plain and nothing special. “Then I’ll get you one exactly like it.”
Sanya felt that You Que had misunderstood. “I want the one you’ve worn.”
Upon hearing this, You Que paused his movement and looked up at Sanya. His eyes were like a calm, deep sea. “…Isn’t the one in the bathroom enough?”
You Que knew far more than Sanya had imagined, but sometimes he simply didn’t bother to address it. This female zerg had secretly hidden his clothes, crumpled them up, and left them on the edge of the bath. From the tangled hair alone, it was clear that no good had come of it.
Maybe it was nightly self-indulgence, or perhaps sleeping together, who knew…
Sanya immediately felt a sense of panic as if his secret had been exposed. He straightened up awkwardly and said, “I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”
But You Que knew that Sanya understood. He glanced at the time on his wrist and saw it was nearly two o’clock. “Are you hungry? Let me take you out to eat.”
Sanya tugged at his shirt. “But the back of my shirt is all dirty.”
It would be strange enough walking on the street, and even more so once they entered the restaurant.
You Que took off his coat and handed it to him. “Put on my coat. It’s already two in the afternoon, and I still have to work. We’ll eat first, then talk.”
Sanya’s eyelids twitched. “Work?”
They had come out for a date, and You Que was still thinking about work? Sooner or later, Fei Wen would fire him!
“You’re the boss, so you don’t have to go in. But I do.”
You Que said this as he pulled Sanya out of the alley, looking like just another ordinary couple on the street. He glanced around and led Sanya toward a restaurant across the road, suddenly speaking up, “Don’t go out for blind dates again.”
Sanya countered, “What about you?”
You Que grunted in response, “I won’t go out anymore either.”
Sanya thought to himself, Now that’s more like it, and secretly scratched the palm of You Que’s hand. “So, do you plan on being my partner?”
You Que tightened his grip on Sanya’s fingertips, preventing him from moving. “We’ll talk about it later.”
He needed to figure out how to resolve his own situation first.
Sanya’s steps faltered when he heard this. He released You Que’s hand and, with an unreadable tone, asked, “You Que, I’m serious about you. Do you think I’m just playing a game?”
Seeing Sanya’s face darken, You Que belatedly realized that his previous words might have sounded like the typical scumbag who wastes someone’s youth. He frowned slightly, and despite Sanya’s struggle, he took his hand again, saying, “I didn’t say I wouldn’t marry you… it’s just that there’s an issue with my documents right now, so I can’t get the marriage certificate.”
Sanya looked at him suspiciously. “What issue?”
You Que led him across the street, unwilling to elaborate. “It’s a small issue. In any case, I won’t let you end up unable to get married.”
Sanya’s expression softened slightly, but he still said, “Who knows if you’re lying to me.”
If he couldn’t get married, so be it. If he couldn’t, You Que wouldn’t be able to marry anyone else either.
Sanya had known from the beginning that You Que wouldn’t give in so easily. Though he felt disappointed, it wasn’t overwhelming. After all, Fei Wen had already secretly begun investigating. It wouldn’t be long before he would know what exactly You Que was concerned about.
On the other side, Mackey had returned to the rented apartment.
Since You Que had left in a hurry that morning, the house was in chaos. Clothes and shoes were scattered everywhere, the bed was a mess, and the plates on the table hadn’t been washed.
“What a pigsty!”
Although Mackey had a strange temper, he was very fond of cleanliness. Seeing the mess, he had no choice but to set his cane aside and, supporting his old bones, began to tidy up. After finishing the living room, he finally entered You Que’s room.
You Que had left in such a rush this morning that he had forgotten to lock the door. Mackey bent down to pick up the pillow that had fallen on the floor, dusted it off, and was about to straighten up when his gaze happened to drift. He suddenly noticed a black package under the bed and froze in place.
Although You Que’s bedroom had few belongings, everything was neat and tidy. The dirty, grimy bag seemed to clash with the otherwise clean surroundings. Frowning, Mackey tossed the pillow onto the bed, then bent down and struggled to pull the bag out from under the bed. Muttering to himself, he said, “What kind of precious item is this, that it needs to be hidden under the bed?”
His curiosity got the best of him, and he unzipped the bag to take a look. Inside, he pulled out a large stack of papers and documents, all of which were proofs needed for entering various cities or using flying vehicles. Among them, there was also an ID card.
When Mackey saw the ID card, his fingertips couldn’t help but tremble, and his face showed clear shock. “This… isn’t this Eugene’s ID card?”
Although the photo on the ID showed a male zerg with brown hair and amber eyes, like You Que’s, the face was vastly different—so much so that it was almost unrecognizable. In fact, it fit the impression Mackey had of his grandson much more closely.
No matter how much a male zerg changes, it couldn’t possibly be this extreme, could it?!
Mackey shivered all over, feeling as if he had uncovered some extraordinary secret. Suddenly, everything that had previously been impossible to explain became clear: no wonder You Que looked so different from before, no wonder You Que’s personality was so cold, no wonder…
This male zerg was most likely not Eugene at all!
Mackey searched the rest of the room thoroughly to confirm what he had found, but there was nothing else. Only that old, tattered bag contained all of Eugene’s documents, casting a layer of mystery over You Que’s identity.
Clutching the ID card, Mackey immediately thought about calling the police. However, remembering how You Que had taken care of him over the past few days, he hesitated for a moment and suppressed the impulse. Leaning on his cane, he sat down on the sofa, lost in deep thought, his expression betraying his anxiety.
If this male zerg wasn’t his grandson, why had he brought him home from the police station all those days ago? And where had the real Eugene gone?
One question after another kept emerging in Mackey’s mind, filling his disorganized brain, while his heart sank deeper and deeper.
By the time You Que returned, it was already late at night. He pushed open the door and walked in, only to find the room pitch black. He turned on the light and saw Mackey sitting on the sofa in a daze. He paused for a moment. “Why aren’t you in your room sleeping?”
Mackey didn’t say a word.
You Que assumed Mackey was hungry, so he placed the food he had bought downstairs on the table. “The food’s still hot. Eat it while it’s warm, and put it in the fridge if you can’t finish it.”
After a long day at work, he was feeling a bit tired. He was about to head into the bathroom to take a shower when a sudden, hoarse and deep voice came from behind him:
“You’re not my grandson. Who are you really?”
You Que paused at the sound of the voice, instinctively turning to look at Mackey. His hand, hanging at his side, tightened subtly without a sound. “What did you say?”
Mackey stood up from the sofa, leaning on his cane, and angrily threw an ID card onto the floor. “What’s the deal with this ID card?! You and Eugene don’t look alike at all. Why are you impersonating him?”
When You Que saw the ID card, he immediately understood. He bent down to pick it up, then turned to look at his room. Sure enough, he found the door was open, and the black travel bag hidden under the bed had already been dragged out.
When Mackey saw that You Que wasn’t speaking, he angrily tapped his cane on the floor. “Say something!”
Despite the situation being exposed, You Que didn’t panic. In fact, he felt a sense of relief. He remained silent for a while, finally placing the ID card on the coffee table and speaking in a calm voice, “I’m not Eugene.”
Mackey didn’t expect him to admit it so easily. He froze for a moment. “Then where is Eugene? Where is my grandson, Eugene?”
However, the next sentence from You Que was like a thunderbolt, striking Mackey so hard that he felt dizzy:
“He’s dead.”
At those words, Mackey staggered and fell straight onto the sofa, incredulity in his voice as he asked, “What did you say? Eugene is dead?”
You Que knew that this piece of news would be a huge blow to Mackey, but at this point, there was no way to hide it any longer. He sat on the sofa and lit a cigarette, his brow furrowed. His voice sounded a little muffled in the swirling smoke.
“You must have seen the news. Several months ago, there was an interstellar pirate incident on the outskirts. Eugene was a passenger on the aircraft, and during the escape, he was accidentally killed. His body was buried in the outskirts.”
“I didn’t know him at first. During the escape, I accidentally took his bag. Since I didn’t have an ID, I temporarily borrowed his credentials to rent a place. I didn’t expect the police to think I was Eugene, so that day they had me go pick you up.”
This story wasn’t long or complicated; it could be explained in just a few sentences, but it left Mackey stunned for a long time. “You… you… How do I know if what you’re saying is true?”
You Que replied, “Eugene’s body is buried in the outskirts. I was the one who handled it. If you want to see it, I can take you there.”
In truth, You Que wasn’t as calm as he appeared. If Mackey didn’t believe him and went to the police to expose his identity, he would inevitably face an investigation. The charges wouldn’t be severe, as You Que hadn’t actually done anything wrong, but what worried him was the police looking into his background. If they started investigating, explaining himself would be much harder.
It wasn’t until this moment that You Que truly realized that he was human, and everyone around him was a zerg. He silently smoked his cigarette, not wanting to disturb Mackey, who was sitting motionless on the sofa, lost in his thoughts.
The whole night passed in silent tension.
The next morning, a knock on the door suddenly broke the oppressive silence in the living room, startling You Que, who had been sitting on the sofa. He glanced at Mackey, then stood up and walked to the door. When he opened it, he saw two female zergs in white police uniforms standing outside, and his heart sank for a moment.
The two female officers standing outside the door were initially stunned when they saw You Que, momentarily distracted by his appearance. After a brief pause, they quickly regained composure and saluted him. “Your Excellency, sorry to disturb you. We are officers from the Fourth Division, and we’ve come to ask you a few questions.”
Upon hearing this, You Que instinctively glanced back, his first thought being that Mackey had called the police. However, seeing the officers’ surprised expressions, he felt it wasn’t quite right. He withdrew his gaze and addressed the officers at the door. “I’m not very available today; perhaps you can come back another time.”
But the officer blocked his attempt to close the door. “Your Excellency, this matter is very important. We hope you can cooperate. The stationed military in the outskirts of the town has been investigating the interstellar pirate traces. A few days ago, they discovered several bodies of victims, including the decayed corpse of a male zerg. After comparing fingerprints, we found that this male zerg was named Eugene…”
The officer looked at You Que with some suspicion, pausing for a moment before continuing, “However, through our investigation in the Star Network database, we found that a zerg used Lord Eugene’s ID card to rent a place in Saint Lieux a few months ago. Would it be convenient for you to come with us to the precinct for further questioning?”
The officer couldn’t help but feel puzzled. The male zerg’s body had been confirmed to be Eugene through blood and fingerprint tests. However, after facial reconstruction by the technical department, the appearance didn’t match the photo on the Star Network ID at all, which was highly suspicious.
You Que thought to himself, ’Just my luck, first I haven’t cleared things up with Mackey, and now the police are knocking at my door. I should’ve just stubbornly stayed at Gu Yigu’s house from the start instead of renting a place.’
“I’ve told you already, it’s not convenient today. Please leave for now.”
“But Your Excellency…”
The officer was about to say something when the old male zerg sitting in the living room suddenly stood up with the help of his cane, stomping it loudly on the ground. He angrily shouted, “Did you not hear him telling you to leave? Are you deaf or blind?! Who gave you the audacity to disregard the will of a male zerg?! You want to take him to the station? Fine, take me, this old male, too!”
Mackey, whose temper was already bad, had been holding in his frustration all night with no outlet. These two female officers were just unlucky enough to run into the storm. With that, he raised his cane and began swinging it wildly, driving them all the way to the elevator. You Que tried to stop him, but couldn’t: “Get out! Get out now! If you don’t, my cane isn’t just for show!”
“Your Excellency! Please calm down! We don’t mean any harm!”
The two officers saw that Mackey was walking unsteadily, clearly worried that he might collapse from the anger. They dared not retaliate and could only hide, not daring to make a move. Just as the situation escalated, a sound of the elevator bell rang, and two female zergs suddenly walked out.
Both were long-haired and clearly from the southern regions. One of them wore a white military uniform— it was none other than Major Robert, who had met You Que at the bar that day. The other one had gray hair and silver eyes, his hair tied up in a neat ponytail— it was none other than Sanya.
The moment Robert stepped out of the elevator, he saw the chaos unfolding. Immediately, he shouted, “What is going on here?! Everyone, stop this at once!”
The two officers, upon seeing Robert, seemed to have found their savior. They hurriedly rushed in front of him and saluted, explaining their situation.
“Major, we were sent by the Director to bring Lord Eugene back for questioning, but…”, one of them said, nodding towards Mackey, “this gentleman refused and even chased us out with his cane.”
Robert glanced first at the still-angry Mackey and then at You Que, as if deep in thought. To everyone’s surprise, he spoke up, “This case is being temporarily handed over to the military. I’ll speak with your Director later. For now, you can go back to the precinct, you don’t need to worry about this.”
The two officers were momentarily stunned upon hearing this, but perhaps due to the scare they’d just gotten from being hit by Mackey, they didn’t voice any objections. Saluting, they replied, “Yes, Major!”
Without waiting for the elevator, they quickly turned and rushed down the stairs.
Robert glanced around the room, giving You Que a polite nod. Then, he turned to Sanya and lowered his voice, saying, “I’ll leave you to talk. I’m heading back—let me know if you need anything.”
Sanya nodded slightly.
You Que clearly hadn’t expected the situation to spiral into such chaos. After Robert left, he frowned slightly and asked Sanya in surprise, “Why are you here?”
Sanya, without a change in expression, shot him a meaningful glance. “It’s not convenient to talk here. Let’s go inside first.”
As it happened, Sanya had asked Fei Wen to investigate You Que’s background, and coincidentally, there had been some progress just this morning.
“I asked a few well-informed underlings to look into it,” Fei Wen said. “You Que suddenly showed up in Saint Lieux a few months ago. Word is, he was found lying in the outskirts, covered in blood, and was rescued by a couple of local thugs. Since then, he’s been hanging out with them without showing any suspicious behavior.”
The information on You Que was pitifully scarce. Fei Wen handed a thin sheet of paper to Sanya and continued, “I suspect the ID card You Que is using doesn’t actually belong to him. The garrison troops have been clearing out interstellar pirate remnants in the outskirts recently, and they discovered the bodies of several victims. Among them was a male zerg named Eugene. It’s very likely that You Que is borrowing this Eugene’s identity.”
Fei Wen’s suspicion was not unfounded.
In Salaranfa, while there might be cases of abandoned female cubs, it was utterly inconceivable for a male cub to be left behind. Every male zerg had a registered household and identity. Only fugitives on the Empire’s wanted list and interstellar pirates lived without proper documentation.
Sanya was secretly taken aback upon hearing this. “What did you just say? A male zerg’s body was found in the outskirts, and his name was also Eugene?”
Fei Wen replied, “Of course. Yesterday, I took some police officers out for drinks and pried the information out of them. They said this male zerg’s time of death dates back several months. Not long after, someone used Eugene’s ID to rent a place. The whole case is suspicious, and they’ve already started investigating.”
Sanya couldn’t shake off a sense of unease. On top of that, the messages he had sent to You Que’s terminal the previous day had gone unanswered. Deciding not to wait any longer, he followed the address Fei Wen had uncovered and came to You Que’s home. Concerned about potential trouble, he had even brought Robert along.
And as it turned out, Sanya’s worries were justified.
After the two officers left, You Que noticed that Mackey was so furious he could barely stand. Just as You Que was about to help him to his room, Mackey shot him a glare, shrugged off his support, and stormed into the room on his own. The door slammed shut with a thunderous:
“Boom!”
Sanya, witnessing the old male’s clear hostility toward You Que, raised an eyebrow and remarked, “That old zerg’s got quite the temper.”
You Que, who also wanted some time alone, walked over to the stairwell with Sanya and sat down together on the steps. He closed his eyes briefly and rubbed his face, his voice hoarse from a sleepless night and too many cigarettes:
“Why are you here? And why’d you bring Robert along?”
His eyes were bloodshot, the exhaustion etched into every line of his face.
Sanya reached out and firmly gripped You Que’s chin, forcing him to turn and face him. His brows furrowed as he took in the dark circles under the male’s eyes, and his hold instinctively softened.
“What exactly happened yesterday?” Sanya asked, his tone low and steady.
You Que remained silent, his gaze dropping to the ground, refusing to meet Sanya’s eyes.
Sanya raised an eyebrow slightly, his voice carrying a faint edge of reproach. “How much longer do you plan to hide this from me?”
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