ISMW Chapter 28

Inside the room, the intertwined lychee-rose pheromones and the unmistakable scent of blood were like a sharp sword, striking Yu Chen as soon as the door opened—he saw Yun Xunlan’s body slightly tilted, his back hunched, his right hand raised to cover his nose and mouth, while large patches of fresh, bright red blood flowed through his fingers, dripping like beads onto the floor.

 

Seeing this scene, Yu Chen’s first thought was: Did Mu Xingyu really hit Yun Xunlan?

 

It looked too much like Zhou Shun’s appearance after he had punched him.

 

However, this idea was quickly dismissed by Yu Chen himself, because Mu Xingyu’s expression was even more anxious than his own.

 

The green-eyed alpha’s handsome face was filled with unease and worry, his normally bronze skin visibly paling several shades. Cold sweat beaded on his temples as he ran forward with open arms, as if wanting to support Yun Xunlan.

 

But Yun Xunlan stepped backward to avoid him, eventually bumping into Yu Chen’s embrace.

 

“…Third Highness?”

 

Yu Chen gripped Yun Xunlan’s shoulder with his left hand, his right hand gently trying to pull away the youth’s hand covering his nose and mouth, wanting to see exactly where Yun Xunlan was bleeding from. But before he could touch Yun Xunlan’s skin, the silver-haired alpha similarly backed away from him.

 

“I’m fine,” Yun Xunlan first lowered his head, pinching his nose to stop the bleeding, then opened his lips to tell Yu Chen and Mu Xingyu, “It’s just a nosebleed.”

 

At the same time, the light brain bracelet was informing Yun Xunlan: “The light brain bracelet has detected localized bleeding in your body and has called a doctor for you.”

 

—Well, this time it’s a direct notification, not even asking for his opinion.

 

While feeling helpless, Yun Xunlan caught sight of Mu Xingyu still trying to support him, so he waved his hand and said, “Don’t touch me, either of you. Don’t get my blood on you. I’m really fine.”

 

Mu Xingyu still looked doubtful: “You… don’t have any pain anywhere?”

 

“No,” Yun Xunlan explained to him, “If I did, the light brain AI would definitely have Yu Chen give me a painkiller first.”

 

Yu Chen, standing to the side, pressed his lips together at these words—indeed, he hadn’t received any instructions to inject Yun Xunlan with an M20 type painkiller, and Yun Xunlan was currently conscious and speaking fluently, showing no signs of discomfort other than the nosebleed. But this didn’t ease Yu Chen’s tension.

 

His body remained tense, his furrowed brows not relaxing.

 

Attendant Ni Chun arrived at the study a minute after Yu Chen burst in, two minutes faster than the doctor.

 

Yun Xunlan didn’t resist his approach, allowing Ni Chun to help wipe away the blood. When the on-duty doctor arrived, he familiarly rolled up his sleeve, letting the doctor draw blood.

 

While waiting for the blood test results, the on-duty doctor asked Yun Xunlan a few questions:

 

“Third Highness, do you feel dizzy?”

 

“No.”

 

“Do you have any pain in your body?”

 

“Almost none.”

 

“Please let me check your pupils.”

 

…

 

After completing a series of basic examinations, Yun Xunlan’s blood test results also came out.

 

Mu Xingyu anxiously asked, “How is it?”

 

The on-duty doctor said, “Second Highness, the Third Highness is indeed fine, just the pheromone concentration and… levels in his blood are a bit high.”

 

Yu Chen could tell that the doctor deliberately omitted a word in his sentence when answering Mu Xingyu, but Mu Xingyu didn’t ask what the omitted word was, only continuing to question, “How can he be fine if the levels are high?”

 

Clearly, Mu Xingyu knew what the omitted word was.

 

“He is fine. The increase in pheromone concentration is because… the levels are also rising.” The doctor paused for a few seconds again. “And Second Highness, you should also know that this is indeed a trivial issue.”

 

Mu Xingyu fell silent.

 

The doctor then changed the subject, addressing Yun Xunlan, “However, to be safe, Third Highness, you should still rest in bed for two days for observation.”

 

Yun Xunlan instinctively refused, “Is that necessary? I don’t feel unwell anywhere, and the nosebleed has stopped now.”

 

How could he find Yu Chen for tutoring if he had to rest in bed?

 

Not to mention that if he really rested in bed, Yu Chen would definitely refuse to sleep foot-to-foot with him for fear of disturbing his rest. More importantly, he wouldn’t be able to go to the training ground for inspection, wouldn’t hear Yu Chen’s daily oath, and wouldn’t be able to complete the daily tasks!

 

A mere nosebleed wouldn’t kill him, but failing to complete the daily tasks had already nearly cost Yun Xunlan his life once.

 

Unfortunately, Dr. Edmund, who was on duty tonight, was older and had a rigid, serious personality. When he heard that Yun Xunlan didn’t want to follow medical advice, he immediately said solemnly, “It is necessary, Third Highness. You need to have your blood drawn once in the morning, noon, and evening for the next two days. We need to determine based on the blood test results whether you’re really fine or just pretending to be.”

 

Yun Xunlan: “…”

 

Well, whether he was really fine or just pretending, he had completely lost the chance to sleep with Yu Chen for these two days of bed rest. He might even have to return to his old ways, relying on reading his “bedtime reading material” to complete the daily tasks.

 

“I advise you not to keep thinking about sleeping with Yu Chen these two days. It’s more urgent to stay up all night and find some negative comments to save,” the system added salt to the wound. “Otherwise, if we can’t complete the tasks, we might as well write our will first.”

 

At the mention of a will, Yun Xunlan was no longer sleepy.

 

How could he dare to be sleepy?

 

One person, one cigarette, searching for negative comments online all day.

 

And the next morning, Yu Chen, who had just finished his night patrol, wasn’t sleepy either.

 

After returning to his dormitory, he didn’t rush to rest. He didn’t even take off his coat before hurrying to the table, staring intently at the lychee rose in the water glass.

 

—It was almost in full bloom.

 

The flower shape was full and substantial, with overlapping layers of petals. Every inch of its branches and leaves was brimming with vibrant life, unbelievably beautiful, very much like a certain alpha, with a charm that made it hard to look away once you’ve seen it.

 

Yu Chen, as if worried it might suddenly die, stared at it for a long time, then carefully added some water and nutrient solution. Afterwards, he made a call to Pei Xingting.

 

“What is it? Speak quickly.”

 

Knowing that Yu Chen was on night duty for Yun Xunlan last night, Pei Xingting started urging Yu Chen after just two sentences: “I have to go draw blood for the Third Highness in fifteen minutes.”

 

“I’ve never asked you before…” Yu Chen gently touched a rose petal with his fingertip, “What disease does he have?”

 

Pei Xingting was silent for a few seconds, then said, “This has nothing to do with our plan.”

 

Yu Chen and Pei Xingting have known each other for exactly eighteen years. It could be said that they are currently the people who know each other best and trust each other the most in the world. For the sake of achieving their common goal and plan, there shouldn’t be any secrets between them.

 

However, there are some professional principles and moral baselines they must adhere to and maintain.

 

For instance, Yu Chen can’t disclose military secrets.

 

Pei Xingting can’t reveal patients’ medical privacy.

 

Therefore, when Pei Xingting reminded Yu Chen with “It’s unrelated to the plan,” he should have tacitly stopped the topic and not probed further.

 

But Yu Chen insisted on asking: “Is it a terminal illness?”

 

There was another long silence from Pei Xingting’s end.

 

Yu Chen also remained silent, insisting on waiting for his answer.

 

“Damn it, can you stop asking?”

 

Pei Xingting cursed, but in the end, he still answered Yu Chen: “…No.”

 

“Alright, consider that I owe you a big favor, I’ll repay you later.” Having gotten the answer he wanted, Yu Chen immediately turned and lay down on the bed, pillowing his arm behind his head, facing the ceiling. “Let’s talk about something related to our plan.”

 

Pei Xingting was speechless: “You already owe me countless big favors, and haven’t repaid a single one. Stop making empty promises. Speak quickly, you have eight minutes left.”

 

“Old Pei, do you think…”

 

Yu Chen lowered his eyelashes, instinctively looking at the lychee rose on the table again. His Adam’s apple moved slightly as he hesitantly voiced a question: “For the sake of our plan, is it necessary for me to put my body on the line?”

 

“Put your body on the line? What do you mean?” Pei Xingting didn’t understand. “Are you talking about sacrificing your life?”

 

Yu Chen felt he was being stupid, so he abandoned the euphemism and said bluntly: “It’s sacrificing my body to gain Yun Xunlan’s favor.”

 

Pei Xingting couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing.

 

Yu Chen’s face remained expressionless, looking gloomy.

 

After a full minute of laughter, Pei Xingting finally stopped and continued: “What? Don’t tell me you’re planning to seduce the Third Highness? Then use pillow talk to coax him into letting you touch his 3S wife?”

 

At the end, Pei Xingting added two devastating words: “You?”

 

Yu Chen never intended to seduce Yun Xunlan in the first place. The name of Yun Xunlan’s 3S wife was even based on his name, so what’s wrong with wanting to touch it?

 

But hearing Pei Xingting mock him like this, he couldn’t help but retort, his voice instantly colder: “Old Pei, what do you mean? Am I not worthy of seducing him?”

 

“I didn’t mean anything, of course you’re worthy. How could you not be with your looks?” Pei Xingting quickly issued a disclaimer, then continued, “But the Third Highness isn’t just handsome, his face is the creator’s favorite.”

 

Pei Xingting had never doubted Yu Chen’s looks.

 

If Yu Chen hadn’t attended a fully enclosed, militarized school, his face and body would have caused a stir, if not overnight fame, at least within a small circle once exposed online.

 

However, his brows were too sharp, his eyes too cold, and even a casual glance seemed to silently call people trash, often giving an impression of being aloof and difficult to approach.

 

Yun Xunlan was different. His features were as rich as a painting, his eyes full of emotion—no one didn’t want to be captured by him, to forever remain in those dazzling, gentle golden eyes.

 

So Pei Xingting asked Yu Chen: “Take a good look in the mirror, then look at the Third Highness’s photo. Think deeply, do you really have a chance of successfully seducing the Third Highness?”

 

“I don’t need to seduce him at all, he’s already very interested in me,” Yu Chen told Pei Xingting what he had been pondering and weighing tonight. “Now I just need to consider whether to firmly reject him or to tacitly allow his interest in me to deepen further, and eventually accept him naturally.”

 

Pei Xingting: “Impressive.”

 

He then asked Yu Chen: “When can you take leave to go out?”

 

Yu Chen was confused: “Why are you asking this?”

 

“You need to come to the hospital quickly for me to personally examine your brain. Given your psychological quality, you shouldn’t be going crazy. So if this is happening, there’s a high probability that your brain has developed an organic lesion,” Pei Xingting muttered puzzledly. “Is the work pressure in the Royal Guard that high? How long have you been on the job?”

 

Yu Chen: “?”

 

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