TL: Hua
Whether it was a dream or not, a silver-haired beauty kneeling before him in a knight’s pose was strange enough.
Lin You prided himself on having no strange fetishes and reached out to help him up: “You get up first.”
Lane, however, said, “Please grant me the honor of accompanying you always.”
His speech was overly formal and archaic. Before Lin You could speak, a fluorescent blue display screen suddenly appeared in his vision.
A cold electronic voice rang out: “Hello, Host, please refuse.”
Lin You paused.
Refuse?
He didn’t say it aloud, but 66 seemed to know his thoughts: “Refuse Lane’s request to accompany you always, and say the following lines.”
A line of small text appeared on the display screen.
“Head of the Corlett family, Major General Iris of the Third Legion, I am well aware of your intentions, and your proposal greatly interests me, but if you wish to always be by my side, I must first see more of your sincerity.”
“…?”
These words were even more convoluted. Lin You almost suspected he was playing a medieval European-themed murder mystery game.
Seemingly sensing his confusion, 66 briefly explained the system binding and mission objective and warned, “You need to play as the Third Prince Lin You and follow the plot in his identity. As a reward for completion, once the role-playing is over, you will receive a chance at rebirth.”
66 warned, “For the normal stability of the small world, it’s best if you achieve a role-playing score of 60 points or more.”
Lin You had played similar games; in some role-playing games, if your actions were too out of character, you would be judged and eliminated.
At this point, Lane had maintained his kneeling posture for a long time. In the prolonged silence, his heart sank bit by bit until it hit rock bottom. Then, he heard the Third Prince speak carefully, his voice carrying the confusion of just waking up: “…I am well aware of your intentions… but I must first see more of your sincerity.”
He had indeed refused.
Lane gave a silent, sarcastic laugh.
He had already offered himself to the male Zerg, and from now on, he could no longer accept the pheromones of other male Zerg. If this wasn’t sincerity, then what was?
However, such a situation was reasonable. The male Zerg knew he had no retreat and would only press him step by step until the last drop of the Corlett family’s blood was squeezed dry.
But even so, Lane showed no trace of it on his face. He gazed at the male Zerg with almost obsessive devotion, bowing respectfully: “I will ensure you see my sincerity.”
“…”
Without exaggeration, Lin You broke out in goosebumps.
This scene was too much like a novel or a game, and the beautiful person before him was like a manipulated puppet or a pre-programmed NPC. He was executing fixed lines and a script with great expression but no depth in his eyes, only to please the player in front of the screen. Lin You glanced at the screen, and the system displayed another line of text: “The plot of this stage has ended. Host, please dismiss Lane.”
Lin You breathed a sigh of relief: “I need to rest now. Please leave.”
Lane picked up his clothes, bowed, and quietly exited.
It wasn’t until his figure completely disappeared from the grand hall that Lin You relaxed and sat back on the soft, large bed.
The system quietly floated out and encouraged him: “High completion rate, Host.”
Although it maintained a cold and dignified image in front of its new host, privately, 66 was weeping tears of joy.
Look! What a well-behaved host! He says whatever he’s told to say, unlike that certain Xie, who asked questions and acted disobediently.
Lin You was still in a daze.
Anyone who suddenly died mid-game and woke up bound to a system and reciting lines would be a bit stunned.
Under the system’s explanation, he understood the situation. Then the system displayed the novel on the screen, gesturing for Lin You to read: “This is the original text for your reference. Please study it carefully.”
Lin You had just read the beginning of the first chapter of the 400-plus-page novel when, without knowing what he saw, he suddenly reached out and patted his face, his eyes wandering before settling on his thighs. He then fell backward and pulled the covers over his head.
System: “?”
What was he doing?
Then he heard Lin You quietly ask, “So, were we just… doing that?” His tone held a hint of secret expectation.
—Has his twenty-plus years as a wizard[mfn]Slang for a virgin[/mfn] finally come to an end?
When he first arrived, he was dizzy, the dull ache in his heart hadn’t completely subsided, and the lack of oxygen and near-death experience had temporarily disabled his brain. In his hazy state, Lin You felt a strange, somewhat comfortable sensation, but when he tried to recall the details, he couldn’t. It wasn’t until he read the novel that he suddenly realized they seemed to have just begun.
System: “…?”
It hesitated, then replied, “Yes?”
Lin You’s face suddenly turned bright red; even the skin on his neck flushed.
The system had a creeping sense of unease.
It asked confusedly, “Why are you blushing? Haven’t you ever tried it once?”
Didn’t he have 328 wives? What’s with all this shyness now for such a promiscuous scumbag?
Lin You: “?”
He felt slightly annoyed: “Of course it’s my first time.”
System: “?”
It felt an ominous premonition. Its central processor seemed to be crashing: “But, y-you have 328 lovers, ah?”
328 lovers, and he hadn’t slept with a single one?
Lin You was bewildered: “328? Oh, you mean my fan group? But what does that have to do with whether it’s my first time?”
“…Didn’t they call you ‘wife’?”
Lin You tried to educate this ignorant system: “It’s modern society. They call me wife, but they also call other streamers wives. Everyone can have countless ‘wives’ and be called ‘wife’ by countless people. There’s no conflict, right?”
System: “…?”
It was shocked by the confusing relationships of modern society, attempting to analyze the possibility of a promiscuous womanizer having countless lovers yet still being a virgin. It then arrived at an absurd ratio of 0.003%, then began to doubt its existence, and completely crashed.
Taking advantage of the system’s silence, Lin You began to read the novel.
To be honest, the novel wasn’t a good reading experience. It wasn’t a sweet romance nor an exciting action story; it was filled with a lot of meaningless violence. At the beginning of the novel, the protagonist, Lane, was already at an absolute disadvantage.
As the eldest son of an old noble family in the Empire, Lane had been engaged to a male Zerg from the Liam family. This male Zerg was attacked and injured during interstellar travel, and Lane was accused of being the assailant. The law enforcement officer extracted Lane’s fingerprints from the bullet fired at the male Zerg, and the evidence was conclusive. If he couldn’t obtain a pardon, he would face exile.
Lin You frowned and read two chapters. He hadn’t gotten far into the plot when he suddenly pointed at a line of text, his eyes lighting up slightly: “Lane is a general?”
System: “? Yes, he is.”
It didn’t quite understand Lin You’s intention in asking, but the ominous feeling in its heart grew stronger.
Lin You: “So he wears a uniform?”
“…Yes, he does.”
Lin You: “!”
Lin You was somewhat of a homebody, with hobbies like gaming and reading manga; he was a bit of a 2D enthusiast. People into 2D culture often have special fetishes, and Lin You, for instance, was a hidden uniform fetishist.
Although Interstellar War was a shooting game, Lin You initially started playing it because the protagonist’s uniform could be customized.
Every time he entered the game, he would casually select equipment and then fluidly operate it. But no one knew that the model of the handsome silver-haired man in the silver-white uniform on the main display interface was something Lin You had painstakingly created bit by bit over half a month. He cherished every accessory on the clothing, and although accessories were limited in shooting games, Lin You was never satisfied, feeling something was missing. But without exaggeration, that was his digitally created “electronic wife.”
Before logging off each day, Lin You would spend twenty minutes repeatedly admiring the model, and then, when the game updated its accessory system, he would decisively buy and store them.
And Lane happened to have white hair. Lin You mentally calculated that with his perfectly proportioned physique and beautiful calf lines, he would look excessively handsome in a uniform.
He asked expectantly, “What color is the Third Legion’s uniform?”
System: “?”
The ominous premonition was about to manifest. The system’s electronic heart pounded, but it still dutifully answered its host’s question: “White.”
Lin You: “!”
Before the system could decipher anything from his oddly shining gaze, a knock suddenly sounded.
After three polite knocks, neither light nor heavy, an old man with a head of silver hair entered the room. He was dressed in a well-tailored formal suit, wearing white gloves, and bowed as he placed a cup of hot milk in front of Lin You, reminding him, “Your Highness, there is a Legion visit scheduled in three days. Please don’t forget.”
The system prompted, “This is your butler.”
As an imperial prince and one of the contenders for the throne, Lin You enjoyed privileges but also had to fulfill obligations. Regular military visits helped boost morale, and the three princes took turns performing them. This time, it happened to be Lin You’s turn.
The butler handed him a data pad with several icons drawn on it: roses, common roses, and a pure white iris entwined with thorns, among other patterns.
The system quietly reappeared: “Choose the Third Legion icon. There’s a plot mission.”
Lin You had read the first three chapters of the novel. He knew there was a plot mission, so he nodded, selected the iris, and handed the data pad back to the butler.
The butler’s expression remained unchanged, but he paused slightly when Lin You selected the third Legion, and a hint of sympathy flashed in his eyes.
Lin You’s maternal family belonged to the Seventh Legion, and all his previous visits had been to the Seventh Legion.
Choosing the Third Legion, where Lane was stationed, at this time was probably what they called “testing his sincerity.”
—
In the Third Legion, resting logue.
Lane pulled up his sleeve, exposing his forearm, and injected a syringe into his muscle.
The fluorescent blue liquid entered his veins, causing a convulsive, stinging pain. His arm quickly swelled slightly, burning with a searing ache. Yet, Lane remained expressionless, calmly pulling his sleeve back down.
Devon, the Legion doctor, sat opposite him, legs crossed, observing him. “Injecting yourself right after coming back? You didn’t get any pheromones from that last encounter?”
Lane lowered his gaze. “Only a little. Not enough.”
Pheromones were one of the means to control female Zerg, making them obedient for a long time. Male zergs were always stingy with them.
He casually tossed his overcoat to Devon. “Try to analyze the residual pheromones and see if you can make a substitute.”
Devon clicked his tongue, taking the coat and placing it into a specialized sealed instrument. “If the Third Prince found out you were illegally analyzing his pheromones, he’d probably kill you.”
Lane replied, “I must prepare for the worst.”
The Third Prince said he wanted to test his sincerity. Lane had seen this kind of tactic many times. He wasn’t afraid of Lin You refusing; the wealth of the Corlett family was enough to move all male Zerg in the world, and the imperial princes were no exception. However, the previous grind and torment were unavoidable, and Lane had to endure them one by one. The other punishments didn’t matter, but the pheromones would severely affect his work. Lin You had just marked him for the first time, and for the next few months, Lane would be obsessed with his scent. This change was purely due to hormonal shifts and had nothing to do with his personal will. Even someone as resolute as a major general of the Third Legion found it difficult to avoid.
Just then, Lane’s optical computer on his wrist beeped, and Devon’s optical computer also beeped. Everyone in the entire Third Legion received the message.
“His Royal Highness, the Third Prince, will visit the Third Legion in three days. Please prepare for his reception.”
Devon gave a wry smile. “As expected, he’s here for you.”
Lane was not surprised.
Male zergs liked to view female zergs as their private possessions, especially those in high positions of power. If he took Lane but couldn’t show him off in front of the Third Legion, it would feel somewhat lacking.
Devon sighed softly. “This meeting is crucial. After what happened to you, although you haven’t been dismissed yet, there’s unrest within our legion. Many want to take your place. A few days ago, there were some troublemakers who were suppressed. If the Third Prince treats you badly, many people will be restless.”
Lane gave a noncommittal “hmm.”
He knew, but there was nothing he could do. Finally, he just let out a faint sigh. “I’ll arrange the collective time to be as short as possible.”
—
On the morning of the third day, the starship docked precisely at the entrance of the Third Legion.
A long red carpet was laid out, and the honor guard was ready early, lining both sides of the starship. Lin You, dressed in an elaborate formal suit, slowly descended the starship accompanied by his butler.
Lin You was the youngest of the three princes and also the best-looking. He had only recently come of age and still carried the youthful charm of someone who easily captivated attention, with an air of composure and nobility cultivated by a life of luxury.
Male zergs were rare in the zerg race, and high-ranking male zergs even rarer. For a moment, all eyes fell on him.
The high-ranking officers of the Third Legion stood on either side, with Lane at the very center of the formation. To outsiders, he appeared to be passionately pursuing the Third Prince. At this moment, he held a bouquet of crimson roses, dressed in meticulously groomed attire, and maintained a perfectly appropriate smile. He gazed intently at Lin You, his eyes filled with deep affection.
Male zergs always enjoyed such devotion.
But Lin You felt completely uncomfortable.
He was rather introverted and a bit of a homebody. Speaking in front of so many people was already difficult for him, let alone being stared at “with tender affection.” Moreover, Lin You had read the novel, and he knew that Lane had no feelings for him whatsoever.
This kind of fake ‘sincerity’ was truly hard to withstand.
Fortunately, the system had recorded his speech for him, so Lin You didn’t need to memorize it. He looked straight ahead, enunciating clearly as he read the speech, occasionally making eye contact with the female soldiers below and offering a polite, proper smile.
But as he swept his gaze over Lane, Lin You paused slightly.
…He seemed to see his electronic wife.
Lane’s long silver-white hair was tied into a high ponytail, and his silver-white uniform completely enveloped his body, leaving no gaps, making him appear exceptionally ascetic. He wore black leather gloves and knee-high black leather boots, holding a bouquet of vibrant red roses. These three intensely contrasting colors were harmoniously unified on him, making it impossible to look away.
But what drew Lin You’s attention even more was the badge pinned to Lane’s chest.
It should have been a badge unique to a major general of the Third Legion. The shield-shaped silver metal badge was carved with a pure white iris entwined with thorns, crafted with a frosted spray paint technique, shimmering with a hazy glow in the sunlight.
Lin You suddenly realized what accessory his electronic wife in the game was missing.
This badge had smooth, elegant lines, and the intertwining thorns added a touch of strength, complementing the entire uniform perfectly.
—If only he could take it off and put it in the game, that would be even better.
At this moment, he had finished his speech, and applause erupted from below. Lin You, accompanied by his butler, walked into the crowd. For the next three hours, he would conduct an official visit, including dining with high-ranking military officials and learning about the legion plans.
He walked up to Lane.
Lane had a pair of captivating peach blossom eyes[mfn]
[/mfn] that made him appear deeply affectionate towards everyone. He knelt on one knee before Lin You, performing a standard knight’s salute, as if the person before him was a beloved he had longed for but could not attain. Then, he presented the flowers with both hands, smiling softly: “Your Esteemed Highness, please accept this bouquet of roses. It comes from the Guarnier Galaxy, having traveled through countless mountains and rivers to reach your hands, yet in my eyes, it is not even half as beautiful as you.”
The Third Legion was in an uproar.
Lin You, the person concerned, thought: “…”
In a corner where no one could see, he was already inwardly crumbling.
Male zergs of the zerg race seemed to favor exaggerated operatic declarations, and female zergs were all masters of sweet talk. No one found anything wrong with speaking such passionate words to a male Zerg they had only met twice. Everyone watched Lin You intently, eager to see the Third Prince’s reaction, as his attitude might determine Lane’s fate and the Third Legion’s allegiance.
The system subtly displayed the plot on the screen, prompting: “You should take this bouquet, throw it violently onto the ground, stomp on it twice, crush the petals, and arrogantly declare, ‘Apologies, Major General, but I hate roses the most.'”
Lin You already knew the plot and understood he had to complete it for the mission, but when it came time to actually do it, he still hesitated.
In such a public setting, this would be like trampling Lane’s face into the ground. Lin You’s upbringing wouldn’t allow him to do such a thing.
During the prolonged silence, cold sweat trickled down Lane’s forehead and into his silver hair. He fiercely dug his nails into his palm, a sharp pain spreading from his hand, barely stopping his legs from trembling.
Too close.
The faint scent of citrus wafted subtly. They had just completed their initial marking, and at this moment, the male Zerg held a fatal attraction for the female Zerg. Even after injecting the medicine, his muscle cells remained unsatisfied, clamoring to get closer. This was a primal and instinctive urge. Lane had to exert almost all his strength to resist reaching out and taking Lin You’s hand.
Enough! Take it quickly! The physiological trembling made Lane incredibly uncomfortable. He thought, gritting his teeth, Then throw it away, stomp on it, smash it against me—anything is fine, just don’t stand here anymore!
The system also urged, “Host, you’ve hesitated too long.”
Lin You paused slightly, then reached out and took the roses.
Before Lane could react, Lin You suddenly released his grip, letting the blooming roses fall to the ground, their petals scattering. Then, he stomped on them.
The Imperial Prince looked delicate and proud, his tone full of arrogance: “I’m sorry, Major General Lane, but you know the flower I despise the most is roses.”
The Third Legion fell silent.
The male Zerg of the Empire were all incredibly pampered, and the princes even more so, having been accustomed to a life of luxury and having their every whim catered to. The first and second princes were both difficult to please, and it seemed the third prince was no exception.
Lane, however, subtly let out a sigh of relief.
His body clamored to draw closer, yet his soul felt as if it floated in midair, observing with a detached sense of relief, as if he had always known this would happen.
In almost two seconds, he regained his smile. “Your Highness, whatever you desire, the Corlett family and I will spare no effort to obtain everything you wish for.”
Lane continuously displayed his bargaining chips, reminding Lin You that even if he didn’t consider his personal feelings, he still needed to consider the family behind him.
Lin You looked down from above. “Everything I want?”
Lane smiled. “Yes, everything you want… Ergh!”
Lin You suddenly leaned in close. The distance between them was less than twenty centimeters, and the sweet, fresh scent of citrus enveloped Lane, making his muscles instantly sore and weak, almost causing him to fall.
Two strands of silver hair fell messily. Lane’s pupils constricted slightly as Lin You’s face magnified before his eyes. The male Zerg raised his hand, his fingertips resting on the iris badge.
Lin You said, “I don’t like roses, but I like another kind of flower. Can Major General part with it?”
“…”
Lane forced a smile. “Of course, please, just ask.”
Lin You: “I like pure white irises, so may I ask, Major General, if you can give me this badge?”
Lane’s pupils contracted.
Please consider supporting me on Ko-fi for extra releases ! Thank u <333
