TL: Hua

---

Chapter 48

Pei Yingye initially held the heart of avenging his past shame, so he was not urgent and even had patience.

The skin soaked in pool water carried a chill. His hand rubbed against Ji Xuan’s jaw and neck, and it felt as if he could taste the unique, cool fragrance on the other’s body between his teeth, as if he were slowly sipping from a handful of snow.

Neither the expected struggle nor reprimand came. Ji Xuan followed his strength, tilted his head back, and accepted the kiss.

He was like a white porcelain statue, allowing Pei Yingye to linger, rub, and entwine his lips, their warm breaths mixing with the cold water vapor.

Ji Xuan’s eyelids lowered, his long lashes casting a small shadow beneath his eyes, hiding his emotions. But his pale lips were rubbed a vivid red, and the faint light from outside leaked in, leaving a languid trace on the glistening moisture licked onto his lips.

It was unknown how much time passed before Pei Yingye abruptly pulled away. He kept his breathing very light, afraid of exposing his thoughts, but the pheromones radiating from him had already betrayed him completely. He stared at Ji Xuan as if trying to discern his thoughts from his expression.

Ji Xuan opened his eyes, which were clouded with a hazy, shimmering light, though the depths remained clear. He lifted his gaze and quietly watched Pei Yingye, raising a hand to lightly touch the stinging skin at the corner of his mouth. When he spoke, his voice was raspy: “Is this enough? The reward.”

Not enough.

How could it possibly be enough?

A cursory kiss was never going to satisfy him, and Ji Xuan’s words were nothing short of adding fuel to the fire. Pei Yingye pressed his nose against Ji Xuan’s and looked deeply into his eyes. His thumb brushed over the delicate jaw before he kissed him once again.

But this time, Ji Xuan gave him a response.

He obediently parted his lips and even proactively extended the tip of his tongue.

He traced Pei Yingye’s lips gently and slowly. The momentary softness and wet heat were like a numbing electric current surging up from his lower abdomen. It felt as if a prairie fire had been ignited at the base of his spine. Without any hesitation, almost instantly, he entangled him greedily, sucking and licking, his arms tightly encircling Ji Xuan’s waist, pinning him even more forcefully between the door and himself.

Their bodies pressed together without a single gap, sharing heat and breath without reservation.

The Alliance’s physiology books said that a low-grade Omega’s pheromones were as tasteless as water and thus entirely unable to trigger an Alpha’s passion. Pei Yingye didn’t know if what he was tasting and licking was Ji Xuan’s pheromones; if it was, it must be the strongest aphrodisiac in the world.

Wet hair brushed against Pei Yingye’s face; the Omega’s tongue in his mouth was not a lingering embrace but more like a tease. It swept lightly across his upper palate, only to retreat skillfully whenever he tried to capture it, occasionally entwining yet never staying.

A trace of helpless anxiety rose in his heart; he felt like a trapped beast in a cage.

Everything he received was only what Ji Xuan agreed to give.

Just like the way they had kissed that first time.

The blood throughout his body was ignited in a twisted fashion, but this time, the end came without warning. One of Ji Xuan’s hands pressed against his chest, and a crooked thigh braced against the side of his leg.

Pei Yingye heard Ji Xuan let out a laugh. It was hard to say if it was mockery or pleasure, but it caused all his blood to flow in reverse.

Pei Yingye released his grip on the other’s waist and took a step back. The sudden distance allowed cold air to rush in, stealing away the residual warmth from their skin. Ji Xuan withdrew his leg. In the dim light, the unavoidable physiological reaction wasn’t particularly clear, but Pei Yingye’s silhouette was outlined with extreme clarity by the light shining in from behind.

Ji Xuan watched him with great interest, not speaking first.

After a long while, Pei Yingye tensed his jaw and said one word at a time: “…I’m going to take a shower.”

His turn was clumsy and stiff as he walked toward the bathroom without a word.

It wasn’t until the lock clicked into place that he realized, in hindsight, he hadn’t followed up to ask Ji Xuan if his performance this time was considered qualified. But on second thought, looking at that expression of his, he should have been quite satisfied.

The bedroom lights were finally switched on, illuminating the interior brilliantly, though they could not compete with the dazzling nebula outside the window. The sound of water splashed in the bathroom. Ji Xuan sat on the sofa, clutching his terminal and contemplating their next move.

However, while the luxury starship was extravagant in everything from configuration to decor, its soundproofing left much to be desired. Pei Yingye’s fragmented, low, raspy gasps seemed to meet no resistance, falling into Ji Xuan’s ears without reservation, occasionally interspersed with a few offensive terms of address that made even him feel a bit restless. He casually turned on the air system, letting the fresh air carry away the overly sweet and thick atmosphere in the room. His fingertips unconsciously brushed his lower lip, which was somewhat swollen from the rough treatment, still retaining a tingle from the forceful sucking.

The sound of water in the bathroom lasted a long time.

When the door reopened, a crisp, cold aura escaped instantly.

Ji Xuan glanced at Pei Yingye and, strangely, did not voice any teasing. Instead, he grabbed his clothes and went straight into the bathroom, giving the latter no time to warn him that there were lingering Alpha pheromones inside.

The sofa in the room was very large. Pei Yingye thought for a moment and decided to endure a bit of discomfort tonight; by the time Ji Xuan came out, he had already ostentatiously occupied one end of it. Ji Xuan raised an eyebrow, said nothing, and went straight to bed.

Early the next morning, the smart butler system in the room started the wake-up function exactly at the scheduled time. A soft female voice broadcasted the standard time and remaining flight distance while reminding them of the breakfast opening hours in the restaurant.

After a night, Ji Xuan’s lips looked a bit more swollen than they had before sleep, and the faint tear at the corner of his mouth allowed anyone to guess what had happened at a glance. While Pei Yingye waited for him to change, his dark, shifting gaze swept over the spot several times, and he couldn’t help but lick the same position on his own lips.

“Do you want to cover it up?” Pei Yingye said with difficulty.

Hearing this, Ji Xuan looked over and instantly guessed what he was referring to. He pushed against the spot with the tip of his tongue and said, “No need. An Omega staying in a starship suite—isn’t it perfectly normal for something to happen between him and the Alpha he’s keeping?”

Pei Yingye’s throat bobbed, and he followed him out of the room.

The restaurant on the top deck indeed offered an excellent view, with the vast, boundless starry sky visible outside the huge viewing windows. The two began to play their designated roles with great professional poise. A certain Young Master Lin seemed to be in a very good mood today; after leisurely eating only a few bites, he nudged his follower’s calf with his own and said, “Sit down and eat with me.”

Thus, Pei Yingye got the chance to eat breakfast.

Not long after, the big fish they were waiting for appeared at the restaurant entrance. With a casual sweep of his gaze, he walked straight toward them.

After returning last night, Zakun had received the background identity files from his subordinates’ investigation. The Omega he encountered in the casino had an almost “perfect” resume: a young master from a fallen noble family in the Second Galaxy. A year ago, he ruined someone’s life, and his family found a scapegoat, changed his name, and sent him to the Fourth Galaxy. He drifted between major planets seeking thrills and spending money like water, and the Alpha by his side was a plaything he had obtained at an underground fighting ring.

Gold and jade on the outside, rot on the inside. It was indeed as alluring as could be.

“Young Master Lin, good morning.” Zakun smiled and leaned down gently by Ji Xuan’s table.

Ji Xuan’s hand holding the knife and fork did not stop. He lifted his eyelids and looked at him listlessly. His inorganic eyes instantly exposed his thoughts. He seemed to be wondering who the person in front of him was, only managing to remember after several seconds.

He didn’t care how the person in front of him had learned his name, merely saying with casual indifference, “Is there something you need?”

Zakun sat down beside him with great familiarity and, as expected, felt the undisguised aggressiveness of the Alpha opposite him. He sneered in his heart and said, “What are your plans for today, Young Master Lin?”

Ji Xuan feigned deep thought for a moment, looked at Pei Yingye, and then looked back at him: “I haven’t decided. Why? Do you have something fun in mind?”

“Seraphina Casino opened a new gambling table today—”

“I’m not playing. In gambling, you either win or lose; it’s boring. It’s not as comfortable as going back to the room to have s*x.”

Zakun’s gaze swept over the tear at the corner of his lip, then looked at Pei Yingye opposite him, his eyes darkening: “Then it is I who seems boring. I wonder what Young Master Lin is interested in?”

Ji Xuan propped up his head, the sleeve of his right arm sliding down, exposing that section of his tattoo exactly to Zakun’s eyes.

A person from the Alliance, even if they sent someone to get close to me, couldn’t possibly have such a tattoo, he thought, reassuring himself.

“I like snakes—beautiful, brightly colored snakes.” Ji Xuan said softly, even gesturing with his hands. “I used to keep a snake about this thick; it was very clingy and liked to coil around my body. Unfortunately, I couldn’t bring it out this time. I also like guns. Have you ever played with the holographic pods identical to the ones in military academies? The feeling of a heavy machine gun blowing a Zerg’s head off is also quite exhilarating. Or, something else… I spent quite a bit of effort when I was training him. I heard high-grade Alphas have better self-control, but from what I see, they’re only so-so…”

Ji Xuan paused significantly: “Unfortunately, the seller ran off later and even made off with my payment.”

He spoke nonchalantly, with a hint of complaint about the spoiled fun, as if the loss was merely a trivial amount of pocket change. But the deliberate pause and unspoken words successfully piqued Zakun’s curiosity.

“Something that can keep Young Master Lin thinking about it must be a fine item.”

“Perhaps. At least it’s more interesting than repetitive gambling.”

Zakun suddenly began to laugh: “It so happens that at the destination of this starship, I have a club that houses famous snake species from all major galaxies. Perhaps there might be something Young Master Lin desires there as well.”

Hearing this, Ji Xuan finally showed a bit of interest and looked at him: “Truly such a coincidence?”

“Naturally. Who would have thought that Young Master Lin and I would hit it off so well, having the exact same tastes?”

Ji Xuan asked again, “And the exchange? There is no such thing as a free lunch in this world.”

The interest in Zakun’s eyes grew stronger. He was about to lean in closer, but unexpectedly, Pei Yingye suddenly blocked him. The chair Ji Xuan was sitting in was abruptly hooked backward, and he fell entirely into Pei Yingye’s arms.

Zakun was not annoyed but instead said, “This one Young Master Lin is keeping is rather ill-mannered.”

“An Alpha who is too submissive is no fun. Occasionally letting him bare his teeth makes it more enjoyable.” Even as he said this, he did not get up from the Alpha; instead, he leaned back lazily. “Besides, it’s quite a hassle to train a new one.”

Zakun remained noncommittal, saying instead, “There are still two days before we dock. During this time, we still need to find some fun, don’t we?”

Ji Xuan raised an eyebrow.

“Would Young Master Lin do me the favor of gambling a few rounds with me? If you win both today and tomorrow, I will present the club’s invitation with both hands upon docking. I will also personally cover all your expenses on Planet Belheim,” Zakun said. “Planet Belheim is my second home; I am very familiar with everything there and guarantee you will feel right at home.”

“That sounds quite good.” Young Master Lin was swayed by him; he got up from the Alpha and said with great interest, “Lead the way.”

The smile on Zakun’s face deepened as he made a gesture of “after you.”

—

Unfortunately, Ji Xuan’s luck today seemed poor. After a few rounds, the chips originally piled like a small mountain on the table were entirely cleared out.

Zakun laughed triumphantly, seemingly unafraid that others would see the game was rigged, yet every one of his moves was hidden so well that no one could find any proof.

However, the scene he wanted to see did not occur; there seemed to be no emotional fluctuation on Ji Xuan’s face after losing. He allowed the attendants to sweep all the chips away, smoking his cigarette and exhaling clouds as he asked lightly, “You said before that as long as I can win these back before tomorrow night, it counts as my victory. Does that still hold true?”

Zakun naturally understood the principle of feeding the bait slowly; one must give the prey a bit of hope so they will pursue it tirelessly for that bit of non-existent reward.

“Of course.”

“Good.” Ji Xuan stood up and straightened his collar. “The god of luck isn’t on my side today, and I’m tired. We’ll continue tomorrow.”

With those words, Zakun stood up and insisted on walking them back to their guest room. Ji Xuan thought for a moment and did not refuse.

He yawned all the way, leaning bonelessly against Pei Yingye and allowing the man to support him with an arm around his waist.

Zakun’s gaze landed on Pei Yingye’s arm encircling the other’s lower back, a flash of gloom crossing his eyes, yet he maintained a dashing smile on his face.

Until they passed a corner in the corridor and heard several voices raised in commotion.

At a corridor entrance not far ahead, two personnel in starship security uniforms were stopping a waiter for questioning.

The three heard a few fragmented phrases—”ID authentication,” “identity verification”—it seemed they suspected the man had used someone else’s identity and had ill intentions.

Ji Xuan and Pei Yingye originally had little interest in the matter, but unexpectedly, Zakun stepped forward first.

“What’s going on?”

The two security guards stepped aside, revealing the waiter’s face.

Ji Xuan and Pei Yingye’s brows furrowed simultaneously. They exchanged an imperceptible glance, both seeing doubt and alertness in the other’s eyes.

—Shen Que?

How could he be here?

---

Purchase complete translation in EPUB format HERE.